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GENERAL CLARENCE R. EDWARDS 
Daddy of the 26th Division! 



GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON was pro- 
claimed as the Father of his Country, and now a 
similar title has been bestowed upon another be- 
loved General. Every lad in the 26th Division hails Gen- 
eral Clarence R. Edwards as the Father of our Division. 
He was familiarly called (behind his back of course) 
"Daddy," and he was in every sense a true Daddy to liis 
boys. Their welfare and protection were his one interest. 
Pie fought so hard down at G. H. Q. for his boys that 
he gained the disfavor of many of the hard-boiled army 
politicians, which eventually resulted in bis losing one 
of his prized worldly possessions — His Own Division. 
General Edwards was relieved from bis command in the 
middle of a terrific battle (October, 1918) and returned 
to the United States to form a new division. This re- 
moval of General Edwards was part of a bold step to 
relieve such officers of combat troops who had established 
a record for achievements and put into command many 
of the favorite clique who bad not seen active service 
previously, and they could then gain the honor of such 
command and perhaps by this service be allowed to retain 
their temporary war rank, which in most cases was 
several ranks higher than their permanent status. 

Our boys cried out — "Generals may come and Gen- 
erals may go, but in our hearts General Edwards will 
remain forever." 




COLONEL EDWARD L. LOGAN 



THE 101st Infantry was indeed proud of its leader. 
In Colonel Logan this famous regiment had a 
righting Colonel in every sense. His one interest 
was the men whose lives were intrusted to him, and he 
can justly report to the parents or relatives of his men 
that his steward-lii)) was performed in the highest degree. 




JAMES T. DUANE 

Holder of every rank from Private to Captain of K Companj during the 

World War. 



Heroism Is Simple, and Yet II Is Rare. 

Every One Who Does the Best He Can Is a Hero." 

Josh BlLLINGS. 



DEAR OLD "K" 




BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 

1 9 2 2 






Copyright, 

/:>/ Jam,* 7. Duam 



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c y i' 



©CI.AHM935 



PREFACE 

It was at the request of the Clinton (Mass.) Historical So- 
ciety, through its President, Judge Jonathan Smith, a member of 
the G. A. R., that this brief history of K Company, 101st Infantry 
(of Clinton, Hingham, and surrounding towns), was written. 

(The members of "K" were originally from the above towns, 
but as casualties occurred, replacements were made by men from 
other sections of Massachusetts and from other states.) 

I have arranged the story in diary form, giving a brief 
history of happenings from day to day. I have made no attempt 
to show that K Company won the war, or was entirely respon- 
sible for winning it; but I present this Company as a shining 
example of the brave and fearless acts of heroism and devotion 
which were exemplified by all the American boys who fought in 
France, Belgium, and Italy; and of those boys who did not reach 
the firing line through no fault of their own. 

The boys of "K" possessed those qualifications which are 
typical of our forebears of Concord and Lexington, of '61 and '98. 

I sincerely hope that my story will please all. Owing to the 
strict orders issued during the war, that no diaries or notes be 
kept by the men, it has been very difficult for me to record abso- 
lutely all movements and incidents of the Company. But I have 
tried to make the story as complete as possible. 

I have made special mention of some names of the members, 
but, this fact does not mean that they performed greater service 
than the others. These names I mention simply because they 
were the first ones which came to mind during my task of writing 
the story. 

If, in any part of my humble story, I have given the im- 
pression that the war was fought alone by "K," or that I, per- 
sonal^, have absorbed any particle of the spot light, I ask your 
pardon, for it is all unintentional. That is caused merely in 
my desire to tell the good relatives and friends of "K" a few 
of their experiences. It is devoted to the deeds of enlisted men, 
rather than officers. Neither pen nor tongue can ever fully 
picture their glorious deeds and patient sufferings. May their 
deeds inspire the boys of future years, as the deeds of our fore- 
fathers inspired us ! 



f ifiT" Tin iir* "^TriiT* "fiiTTf ^Gf^'"l^ar fc J33lifl...'irflir ^kjluT lu: 



* 



WE SHALL NOT SLEEP 

"In Flanders fields the poppies blow- 
Between the erosses row on row. 
That mark our place; and in the sky 
The larks, still bravely singing, fly. 
Scarce heard amidst the guns below. 
We are the dead. Short days ago 
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, 
Loved and were loved, and now we lie 
In Flanders fields. 

"Take up our quarrel with the foe. 
To you from falling hands we throw 
The torch — be yours to hold it high. 
If ye break faith with us who die, 
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow 
In Flanders fields. " 

Lt. Coi . Dr. John McCrae. 




BaOBOnUOOOoOQBm 











rj^IIIS BOOK I dedicate to my Mother and 






X to the Mothers, both living and dead, of the 






boys of "K," 101st Infantry, for it is to them that 






all glory is due. James T. Diane. 












(."\ri\i\ PkTEB F. COXSEIXY 

The splendid officer who commanded and 
put K Company in the fine physical condition 
to stand afterward all the hardships it suffered. 

11< was later selected for Provost Marshal 
of Nice the most famous pleasure resort in 
all Europe. 



DEAR OLD "K 




FTER the return of Company K from its tour 
of duty on the Mexican border, the boys once 
more settled down to the old routine of affairs ; 
they brushed the dust and sands of Texas 
from the breech blocks of their rifles and 
placed them in the racks in the Armory, say- 
ing to each other, "Well, I hoped we would 
get a chance to use these babies against those Mexican Greasers, 
but we were out of luck on the sport, so we will have to sit 
around and grow old waiting for Japan to come in through 
Mexico and start something, and then we may take another trip 
south." 

Such was the opinion of most of the boys of Company K. 
The war in Europe had been going on so long and no signs 
of America ever getting into it, that hardly a second thought 
was given to our going across to France to fight. As the boys 
said, "No such luck." 

The peaceful habits of Clinton prevailed until one Sunday 
late in March. On Sunday, March 25th, the people of this 
town arose early to be greeted by a bright and glorious sun- 
shine. They did their usual Sunday-go-to-meeting primping, 
and the church-goers attended their respective services. 

The day was one of the finest we had had in months, and 
all the people seemed exceptionally happy. But as the old 
adage goes, "After sunshine comes a storm." Late in the after- 
noon our quiet little town was awakened to a sad surprise. The 
word passed about like wild fire that our good President of the 
United States had issued a call, and K Company was ordered 
mobilized to prepare for a war emergency. The boys assembled 
at the State Armory and were greeted by their ever-smiling cap- 
tain, Peter F. Connelly. As they arrived they were given their 
instructions, and those members who were out of town were notified 
by wire or phone to report at the earliest possible moment. 

It was not long before the great majority of the townspeople 
were assembling outside the Armory to see the excitement and 

1 



2 D E All OLD " K " 

trv to learn the real news of what, had and what was to happen. 
The members of the Company made their appearance in an 
exceptionally short period, and they were seen strutting around 
the Armory with happy smiles, for they felt, as nearly all young 
Americans did. this was a chance of a lifetime for a lark and 
some excitement and adventure. 

After about a week's hanging around the Armory, definite 
orders were received, and K Company was ordered to move by 
train to Concord, Mass., to act as guards on the railroad bridges, 
powder plants, etc. 

The first days of the Company's stay in Concord were enough 
to discourage less strong-hearted boys, for it snowed and sleeted 
for days, making living in tents uncomfortable. After a few 
days in Concord, orders were received dividing up the Company 
and sending groups to Marblehead to guard the air station there, 
to Lynn to assist as guards at the General Electric Plant, and 
to Dedham to guard the Sturtevant Aeroplane Plant. 

The usual peaceful events occurred at these various places, 
the boys making many new friends and winning great praise 
from the management of the places at which they served as 
guards. 

Early in July the Company was once more assembled and 
moved to the state camping grounds at Framingham. Here 
the entire Ninth Regiment was assembled, to take up a strenuous 
course of intensive training to prepare for their future participa- 
tion in the great conflict in France. It was not until then that 
many could be made to believe there was a chance of our American 
boys ever going across the water to fight, but signs indicated 
then that there was no mistake that the boys would be soon in 
the thick of it. 

Our President, early in July, had issued an order mobilizing 
all the National Guard organizations which were not called to 
arms in March, and also ordered all the men who were on the 
Reserve list of the National Guard to muster on July 25th. 

July 25th found the Dandy Fifth Mass. Regt. under arms, and 
they were now ready for any duty which might be assigned to 
them. The Fifth Regt. mobilized at Camp Darling, Framingham. 

All kinds of drills and games were indulged in to condition 
our boys. They were put through a course of trench digging 



101st I N F A N T R Y 3 

and making barbed-wire entanglements. All this was taken in a 
light-hearted spirit, as is the custom with Americans, for we 
must be shown before we will take things seriously ; and especially 
so with this war, which was so far away that it had neither 
touched us nor been brought home to us yet. 

Early on the morning of July 31st we had the first real 
message of the war and its grim realities delivered to us. On 
the arrival of the daily newspapers in the camp we were shocked 
beyond description. There in bold, black type was the announce- 
ment that Perley Hamilton, of Clinton, had been killed in action 
with French troops. This was our first lesson, and the Germans 
could not have committed any deed that could have saddened 
the Clinton boys more. This news was the topic of conversation 
for the entire day, and every Clinton boy in camp with K Com- 
pany that day took a solemn oath that Perley Hamilton's death 
would be more than repaid, if the opportunity ever offered itself. 

Perley Hamilton was our first inspiration, and although not 
a member of our Company or Regiment, we all admired his pluck 
and spirit in volunteering and going across to assist poor, bleed- 
ing France by joining the Princeton Unit, American Field 
Ambulance Corps, a very important and extremely dangerous 
branch of service. We were proud to learn later that France 
had bestowed her cross of war on Perley for his bravery. 

The American Field Ambulance Service was an organization 
formed by Colonel A. Piatt Andrew, of Gloucester, Mass., of 
brave and patriotic young Americans — mostly college boys — who 
went to France early in the war and gained undying fame. 

On August 5th, by order of the President, all National Guard 
organizations were federalized and became part of the United 
States Army. Under this order the Ninth Regiment, which had 
held so many traditions and glorious records, was to be stripped 
of its name and henceforth would be known as the 101st United 
States Infantry, thereby being made the first National Guard 
outfit in the new United States Army. An order was then issued 
ordering the merging of the 5th Massachusetts Regiment with 
the 9th, to form the remainder of the 101st Infantry. Thus 
were combined two splendid fighting units, which we knew would 
later bring fame to our dear old State. The consolidation took 
effect on August 23d. During the merging ceremony a terrific 



4 DEAR OLD "K" 

thunder and lightning storm broke over the camp, and during 
the storm two members of L Company (9th) were killed by 
lightning and about twenty men of various companies were 
injured. 

News was given out that our Regiment was soon to break 
camp and move to some point far away. Rumor had it we were 
to go south, another said Long Island, and still others to France 
and even Russia. Rumor followed rumor, and each Sunday was 
to be our final day at Framingham, and each Sunday would 
bring many thousands of visitors to the camp to see the final 
review, but we kept sticking right to camp. Things remained 
about the same until about noon on September 5th, when definite 
orders were given that all baggage would be prepared for ship- 
ment and all large tents lowered by 4 o'clock that afternoon, 
and the half-shelter (or pup) tents would be put up. Cheering 
could be heard all over the camp, for the boys were glad of the 
chance to move, regardless of whence it might be. 

That night the camp presented a wonderful sight, with its 
small tents and several large bonfires in each Company street. 
Many of the boys were able to telephone to their relatives and 
friends, telling them of our moving the next day, and this news 
brought crowds of relatives and friends to the camp that night 
and the majority remained until the wee small hours of the morn- 
ing, singing, telling stories around the bonfires, and bidding last 
farewells. 

On September Cth, all the boys were up early and it did not 
take very long to lower tents, pack barracks bags, and police the 
grounds. All day long we stayed about waiting for word to move. 
At 3.05 o'clock we were ordered to fall in and move out, thus 
starting our historic march which ended in German territory. 
There were very few people on the grounds to bid the boys good- 
by. There were not more than ten or twelve Clinton people 
present. This to the boys was a perfect start, for there is nothing 
that pulls harder on the soft part of the heart than bidding dear 
ones good-by, especially with the horrible vision of war in one's 
mind. 

We marched through the gates of the camp grounds and on 
to the main streets of Framingham, and as we marched through 
the center of the city the bell on the Catholic Church was tolling. 



101st INFANTRY 5 

That caused a strange feeling, for it, too, well reminded us of 
what we had before us and those we were leaving behind. Many 
of the boys were seen to have tears trickling down their cheeks. 

We left Framingham about 5.30 p. M. by train, and were 
taken direct to the large freight yards at Harlem, N. Y., arriving 
there early next morning. Baggage was unloaded and prepara- 
tions made for the transfer of our goods to a boat which awaited 
us there. Goods were loaded aboard a boat called the Ajax, 
and about 8 o'clock on the morning of the 7th we were sailing 
down the East River toward Hoboken. Hoboken reached, we 
unloaded equipment on the pier and transferred to the transport 
which awaited us. This transport proved to be the Henry Mal- 
lory, which was formerly a fruit boat converted for transporting 
troops. Although named Henry Mallory, all felt that some 
mistake had been made in naming it, for we were certain that 
it must be the same Ark that Noah carried two of a kind in 
during the high tide away back. At 4 o'clock that afternoon, 
with orders for all men to remain below, we left our mooring 
and were soon passing the Statue of Liberty toward France. 

September 8th was a day of real rest for all. But on Septem- 
ber 9th everything was unrest. The sea was running rough and 
I, as well as many others, was a bit rough in the stomach. This 
day was the starting of our troubles. We were now having a 
heavy rain and rough sea, which continued on September 10th, 
and the way many of us were feeling, any undertaker would 
have been a welcome visitor. There is an old saying which just 
fitted our case, "At first you're afraid the boat will sink, then 
you're afraid it won't." That was us. Why, even a submarine 
held no terrors, for they couldn't get us mad with fifty tor- 
pedoes. 

On September 11th, things cleared up and many were able 
to sit up and crawl to the deck for air. It was great sport to 
see the sick lads lined up with ring-side seats at the rail, taking 
no chances on being out of reach, the healthy lads all around 
betting to see which one would be first to throw up the sponge, 
and everything else. Incidentally it might be said many of us 
made the trip across by "rail." The thing that was as much 
responsible as anything was our menu. Everything had to be 
steamed — steak, liver, bacon, etc. It was a rough deal on a poor, 
undefended stomach. 



6 DEAR OLD "K" 

On September 16th we had to don our life belts and orders 
were to continue wearing them at all times during the remainder 
of the trip, as we were now in the real danger zone. Father 
O'Connor read Mass on the aft deck on this day, and Chaplain 
Rollins held his services on the fore deck. A concert was given 
by some very fine talent among the boys and the band also 
entertained. 

One of the boys of M Company, George T. Ahearn, of East 
Boston, was taken seriously sick with an acute case of appendi- 
citis. About 4 o'clock signals were sent to the battle cruiser, 
which accompanied our convoy, to stop, and the boy would be 
transferred to the hospital ward for an immediate operation. At 
4.30 o'clock our boat stopped, as did the cruiser. One of the 
large lifeboats was lowered. In this boat were six boat hands to 
row. the sick boy, the ship's doctor, and Father M. J. O'Connor. 
There was a rough sea running, and it was a perilous trip. At 
times the small boat would be out of sight for minutes at a time. 
Row-boating in the middle of the ocean is rough sport, but Father 
O'Connor volunteered and, against the advice of the ship's officer, 
he made the trip. It was a-- brave an act as I saw in the war. 
A few months later the boy was reported as completely recovered. 

All the boats of our convoy, which consisted of nine trans- 
ports, two destroyers, and one cruiser, were now zigzagging 
along the course, to avoid and deceive any U-boats that might 
be lurking about. Shortly after dark our boat had a very narrow 
escape from being rammed by the Princess Irene, another boat 
of the convoy. Rumor had it that the pilot of the Princess 
was placed under arrest for his attempt at this ramming. About 
4 a. m. our boat struck a whale which was of medium size. Target 
practice was indulged in by the gun crews of the boats, and some 
excellent shots were made. 

On September 18th we entered the Bay of Biscay, which is 
a very nice, rough little place. It was storming again, which 
did not make things any smoother, so many of us were once 
more on the verge of mal de Jner. A wireless was received on this 
dav which told of the boat which we passed on September 12th, 
going toward the United States, being torpedoed thirty-six hours 
after it passed us. On this night we were treated to a grand 
sight. No lights were allowed on the boat and all was in dark- 



101st INFANTRY 7 

ness, this being true of the whole trip, but now the entire sea was 
illuminated by the phosphorus in the water. 

Early on the morning of the 19th we were told we would be 
met by a convoy of destroyers sent out from France. Needless 
to say, we were all out early to see our friends. About 7 a. m., 
through the heavy mist, smoke could be seen on the horizon in 
different places. We watched these specks as they approached, 
and very shortly twelve very speedy little torpedo boat destroyers 
were close by, greeting us. They were all in camouflaged colors 
and reminded one very much of so many barber-poles. It was 
a grand sight to watch as they came up and circled about, dart- 
ing in all directions in order better to guard and get us through 
safely. The two destroyers and battle cruiser which left the 
United States as our convoy turned back as soon as our foreign 
convoy arrived. We were escorted through the Bay toward the 
channel leading to our port. Shortly after dark, with all eyes 
strained for the first glimpse of a sign of land, we spotted one of 
the great harbor lights of St. Nazaire. We entered the channel 
and anchored just inside the mine nets of the harbor. 

The following morning, after receiving our French pilot, we 
steamed up the channel, passed Belle Island and into the locks 
of St. Nazaire. While being carried through the locks all the 
boys lined on the deck and, accompanied by the band, sang the 
"Marseillaise," which we had been rehearsing on the way over, 
and the "Star-Spangled Banner." The shore was crowded with 
people, including many American and French sailors, who gave 
us a royal reception. There was a French band on the shore to 
serenade us. The people on the shore just bombarded the boys 
with fruit, flowers, and cigarettes. 

All hands were ordered to remain on board that night, nobody 
to go ashore until the following morning. There were Marines 
on guard on the dock, but even these held no terrors for some 
of our warriors, for Howard Cummings, James (Dolly) O'Toole, 
and Bill Roach braved the dangers of the guard and slid down 
the long rope to the dock and escaped uptown, exploring the 
town first and incidentally being the first three National Guard 
men to set foot on French soil. 

Early on the morning of September 21st, all were ready for 
the word to pass down the gangplank. After our journey of 



8 DEAR OLD "K" 

fourteen days on the water we were a happy crew, to be on 
terra firma. It certainly was a wonderful fooling when 1 placed 
my feet on Mother Earth once more, and at that moment I 
decided that life was still worth fighting for. The Machine- 
Gun Company marched off first and then lv Company, thereby 
placing K Company as the first Infantry Company of National 
Guard to land in Franco. 

We wore formed in line on the docks here, and after stacking 
arms were allowed to fall out and look things over in the im- 
mediate vicinitv. Our first impression of France was rather a 
gloomy one. for nearly every woman one -aw on the streets was 
dressed in deep mourning, indicating the loss oi some dear one 
in the war. 

About noon our first march on French soil started. We 
hiked to the reception camp, which was a distance of about -i\ 
kilometers from the boat. This was a camp situated on a high 
hill overlooking the City of St. Nazaire. Our quarters were 
wooden barracks with dirt floors. It was lure that we saw our 
first German prisoners. There were about 5,000 prisoners in 
St. Nazaire, and these were used for all kinds of policing and 
cleaning up. With the usual soft American hearts, our boys felt 
sorry for the prisoners, ami they threw them many cigarettes 
and much tobacco. 

Our second day in camp gave us a chance to wash all the 
clothes we soiled on the trip over. The laundry work over, 
our next move was a trip to town to see the sights. Most of the 
boys in the Regiment made a visit to the city to look it over ami 
to buy a few souvenirs. 

On our arrival into port we found an advance guard of 
Marine- stationed in this city, anil it was their duty to act a- 
guards and military police. The sightseeing of the boys oi the 
101st Infantry lasted well into the evening. On our arrival in 
port, won! was passed around by the Marines that a crowd 
of National Guard rookies had arrived, and they politely informed 
us that they and the Regulars would take care of the tin soldiers. 
A rather pleasant greeting from neighbors in a foreign land, but 
our boys had gone to France to tight, and it made little difference 
to them when it started or where it took place: and believing the 
story of the Good Book, that he who hesitates is lost, they de- 




Ma.ioh Thomas F. I Feakless) Foley, of Worcester. Mass., 
who commanded tin- Third Battalion of which K Company was a 

part. 

His motto was, ••Conic on'* wrvcr ordering anybody to go 
ahead. 




I. II i I I s in 1 I I li . V.DAMS 

S led with K Co. and was the onlj officer to 
sail across and return with " K." 

mule up iii pep for what he lacked in 
height. His platoon was alwaj s n great booster 
for him. A l»>i> sold at. 




Lieutenant Kih.au K. Densmore 
Selected ti> return to l.S as Instructor 
and promoted t<> Captain. 
Lieut. Densmore was an old stand-by 
in *' K," he having been connected 
with tin- Company for :i great many 
\ <"ir-N. 




Lieutenant Albert S. Lane 
Sailed across with K Co. Was selected to return to 

United States as instructor. 

B<-rf was a master ':• at calisthenics. He was the 

Company's official host, especially on pay nights. A 

prince of good fellows. 




Lieutenant Donald S. Fhan< is 

Sailed across with K Company. Was selected to return to United Slates 
as inst ructor. 

Donald was a bear with the bayonet stuff. Ask him what he wiped his 
bayonet with. 



101st INFANTRY 9 

cided that right here and now was the time the festivities started. 
On great display posters, later distributed as a means of recruit- 
ing by the Marines, they claimed to be the first American troops 
to fight in France. They were. But it was in St. Xazaire on the 
night of September 21, 1917, and it was a defensive battle with the 
Marines on the short end and the 101st Infantry on the offensive. 
It was a lovely tuning up for what was later to come. 

St. Xazaire is a medium-sized French city, rather untidy 
and morals not to be bragged about. At the Sunday services 
on September 23d both our chaplains gave very strong sermons 
on the moral conditions of the country, and issued a real warn- 
ing that I am sure impressed every man present, so that the 
lesson was kept continually before him during the remainder 
of his stay in France. 

To keep the men in good physical condition short hikes out 
into the surrounding country were indulged in morning and 
afternoon. It was on these hikes that we saw some real sad 
effects of the war. In the fields and gardens very old women were 
doing work that strong men should be doing. They were handling 
large plows, digging and carrying on work that would never fall 
to their lot if it were not that the war had taken away all 
their men. 

Several former Clinton boys who learned of our presence in 
camp came over to see us. and old times were talked over. Frank 
Downey, a friend of most of the boys, was a guest. He was with 
the 23d Infantry. Regular Army. Frank said that a German 
barber drove him into the army. The barber was too pro- 
German in his utterances when Frank had some patriotic spirits 
in him. so he decided the army was the place for him, and the 
Kaiser's and barbers relatives would have to suffer. 

Our first shower baths were allowed on the 28th. Sixteen 
men were rushed into the showers, the water turned on and all 
must bathe and be ready to dress in just four minutes. Later, 
on the evening of the 28th, we received orders that on the morrow 
we would pack up our equipment and move on into the first 
training quarters. Sergeant John F. Meiledy and a detail of 
four other men were sent ahead to arrange for the billeting in 
the new camp. 

At -i a. m. the headquarters of our Regiment moved out, and 



10 DEAR OLD "K" 

each battalion moved on in its turn. Being in the Third Battalion, 
"K" moved last. Our battalion moved at 4 o'clock in the after- 
noon. As we lay around camp waiting for the hour of moving, 
we saw four sections of the Ambulance Units make their start 
for the front. They were Yale, Bucknell, New York University, 
and Cornell Units. These units were equipped with Ford Am- 
bulances. As they drove out of camp on their first lap to the 
front, they flew their unit colors, as well as large Red Cross 
flags ; and while the band played, all the boys lined up along 
the road, saluted, and called good luck to all the ambulance 
men. It was an inspiring sight. 

The old saying, that "a soldier never has anything in his 
pocket but a hole," found much truth in many cases in K, for we 
had not been paid for three months ; but fortune once more smiled, 
as one of our lieutenants gave me a dollar bill for some work 
which I had done for him. Alas, I was well-to-do, so a few of 
the boys and myself went forth to the canteen and invested the 
bulk of our wealth ($1.00) in bread and jam sandwiches. This 
was our first luxury since leaving home. 

At 7 p. m.. after a four-mile hike, we reached the railroad 
freight yards. There was a short halt after which I was ordered 
to throw my equipment into a certain freight car, but I informed 
our captain that I was going to take my equipment into the pas- 
senger ear with me, and the reply was that these were our passen- 
ger ears. I looked them over; and as the rest of the boys gave 
them the once-over, there were many funny remarks made. On the 
side of each bos ear was marked "40 Hommes — 8 Chevals," which 
means that either 40 men or 8 horses can be crowded in. One 
lad said, "We came across the water like a bunch of bananas, 
and now we are to be shipped like a lot of horses." The only 
thing missing to give the right atmosphere was a few pitchforks 
and some straw. In a short while we wire all huddled in and on 
our way. 

There was no such thing as sleep that night, for it took 
nearly all our time preventing each other from marring our 
beauty with hob nails and keeping elbows from crushing our ribs. 

Daybreak came as a great relief, for we could at least pass 
our time taking turns at looking out of the side door, which was 
our only opening, except the splendid view we could gain of 



101st INFANTRY 11 

the rail-ties through the rents of half a foot or so in the floor 
of the car. All day long we admired the scenery, for it was all 
strange and novel to us. Many very beautiful chateaux on 
the high hills, homes built out of ledges on the sides of hills, and 
along the roads we saw many of the famous old dog-drawn milk 
carts. 

On October 1st, we were still in our cars, "de luxe, a la box," 
and going strong. The boys were telling their experiences of 
last night, and it was a scream to hear one lad say he dozed 
off until Jack woke him up hollering, "Keep that foot out of my 
mouth." One fellow heard Marty say, "That knee of yours 
has been in my ear for the last half hour," and still another was 
heard calling for Pete to stop scratching his shoulder instead 
of his own. 

All day we rode until 4.30 p. m., at which time we reached 
our destination, Neufchateau (Vosges). Here we detrained, 
packed our equipment, and started on the hike to the camp, which 
was three and a half kilometers from the city in a little village 
named Rebeuville. On reaching camp and being assigned to a 
section of floor space, we spread out our blankets and, tired, 
weary, and hungry, laid our heads down for a long-looked-for 
sleep. 

Our little village is situated down in a valley between high 
hills in the Vosges district. There is a population of about 
two hundred people. The village is fifteen miles from the Swiss 
border, and about thirty-five miles from the firing line. On a 
very clear night the heavy guns, when firing, could be heard. 
This village was the scene of one of the fiercest battles during 
the Franco-Prussian War. There are several large crucifixes 
erected about the village, marking the spots of bloody conflicts 
during that war. 

As is the rule in all towns and cities where troops are sta- 
tioned, there is a Board of Military Officers appointed over the 
town. The American Town Major appointed me Town Clerk. 
This was my first step in foreign politics. Our companies were 
the first American troops to occupy this village, and as a matter 
of fact, our Regiment was the first American outfit to reach this 
section of France, so to the people we were somewhat of a 
curiosity. 



12 DEAR OLD "K" 

On October 12th, the cure, or village priest, arrived home on 
a furlough from the army. This priest had been at the front 
for three years as an enlisted man. During the first three years 
of the war there were 25,000 Catholic priests serving in the 
French Army, and during the first two years 7,000 of these 
were killed in action. It was a great sight to see the villagers 
gather around the little old cure on his return to the village. 
Although so very small, Rebeuville had furnished forty men to 
the army, sixteen of whom had died in the service. This average 
has been true all over France, and I daresay that there is hardly 
a single home in the country that has not been affected by the 
grim hand of the War God. 

How different from our own churches was this village church 
— stone floor, no heat all winter, small, old-fashioned lamps on 
the side walls, and antiquated statuary. While the priest was 
giving his sermon, a large number of the village children came 
in and marched up through the church with their wooden shoes. 
Laughing and pounding louder than a set of looms in a weave 
shop. All this was quite a contrast from our own warm, com- 
fortable, and noiseless churches at home. On this afternoon we 
received word that Bar-le-duc was bombarded by aeroplanes, 
and a large portion of the city destroyed. 

Neufchateau, which is our Division Headquarters, is a very 
quaint, old-fashioned city, with low roofs and very narrow >treets, 
ami at night no lights are allowed for fear of air raids. During 
the evening, with no lights, it is very difficult to navigate unless 
one is thoroughly acquainted with the street-. One need not 
fear crooks in those cities at night, for the crooks are afraid 
that they might be running up against another man of their 
own trade. 

On October 6th we received our first mail from the dear old 
l'. S. A. On the announcement of mail, there was a mad rush 
and crush that looked like the effects of mess call. My, how 
good it was to receive news direct from home and the dear folks. 

October 7th. our first Sunday in camp, we held field services. 
Father O'Connor said Mass and Chaplain Rollins held servi 3, 
both on a small plain down at the foot oi our village. At 9.80 
music could be heard in the distance, and very shortly the band. 
leading the first battalion of our Regiment, could be seen, winding 



101st INFANTRY 13 

clown the road over the hills. It was a beautiful sight to see, the 
colors waving, and to hear our own American airs sounding 
through the hills of the Vosges Mountains. After the church 
services, two baseball games and one football game were held, and 
there was much sport until late in the afternoon. 

On our arrival in this village it rained and continued to rain 
or hail every day for nearly six weeks. This is very pleasant 
when one knows of the beautiful barracks we had to live in. These 
were 100 feet long by 20 feet wide, dirt floors and sieve roofs. 
These barracks were built by German prisoners and the roofs 
were covered with tar paper, but just to carry on their low- 
toned tricks, which are typical of the Boche, they perforated the 
entire roofs with nails so that it did not show until it rained, 
and then we had shower baths right in our apartments. The hoys 
had to prop up their half-shelter tents inside the barracks to 
keep dry. Later, when the thermometers went down out of sight 
and we nearly froze stiff, we were issued two small wood stoves, 
one to be placed at each end of the barracks. When these stoves 
were well regulated and assisted by a favorable wind and there 
was plenty of wood, we could get a little heat if we could crowd 
within three feet of them. But the most cheery part of it all 
was that the boys had to go on detail every second morning and 
hike three miles into the woods and carry wood back for these 
stoves and the kitchen. 

As we sat around the barracks telling lies and stories, and 
so forth, we were surprised with a batch of Clinton Items which 
just arrived. Some of the boys who could not get first call on 
one of the Items sat around and nearly had nervous prostration, 
for the boys who had them were reading from beginning to end 
and not missing a single line. One fellow wanted to make a bet 
that he could recite almost every advertisement on the paper by 
heart. Even the ads looked like late news to us. Jack Knowles 
received a copy of his famous Hull East Wind, so the Cape boys 
had the latest news also. 

On October 12th, Captain Connelly, Lieutenants Lane and 
Adams, and Sergeant Howard J. Cummings left camp at 6 a. m. 
for a course at the 1st Corps School at Gondrecourt. During 
the absence of Captain Connelly at the 1st Corps School of 
Instruction on Advanced Warfare, 1st Lieut. Edgar R. Densmore 
was in command of "K." On the return of Captain Connelly 



14 DEAR OLD "K" 

from the above course, Lieutenant Densmore was then assigned 
to the school, it being necessary that all officers attend for a 
certain period in order that they might adopt the new system 
of warfare as taught by the French and English. 

October 14th brought the first sad news from home to any 
of the boys. Father O'Connor notified Bill Moynihan, of 
Maynard, one of our crackerjack soldiers, that his mother had 
been called to her heavenly reward. Poor Bill was all broken 
up, but he received the news like a real soldier. 

October 15th gave us another pleasant day. We marched 
from our camp to the City of Neufchateau at 7.45 a. m., to be 
received by Marshal Joffre and General Pershing. On arrival 
in the city shortly after 8 o'clock, the Company took a posi- 
tion along one of the city streets in company front, and stood 
at rest awaiting the arrival of the guests. It rained most of 
the morning and cleared around noon. About 2 o'clock it 
started to rain again, and still we retained our position on the 
road; darkness came on and at (5.30 word was passed along that 
the guests had arrived and for us to stand erect and look our 
prettiest. This, of course, was an easy task, for outside of being 
drenched to the skin and with nothing to eat all day, we were 
in perfect shape. At last the Marshal and the General had 
reached the head of our line, and we were to be reviewed by the 
highest officer in the French army and the ranking officer in the 
American army, quite an honor. 

As is always the rule with high officers, when traveling they 
are accompanied by a score or more other officers, ranging down 
to second lieutenants. The review at last had started, and we 
were being inspected in the dark with the only rays of light, 
that made it possible to know that troops were on the street, 
coming from an automobile following the party. As our General 
walked along, not once did he as much as turn his head so that he 
might see our Company, but hiked right along about his business; 
and the only inspecting or reviewing we received was by a few of 
the second lieutenants with the General's party. From that time 
on we were through with generals, and our affections ran toward 
the much-abused and overworked second lieutenants. 

At last we have been assigned regular instructions in war- 
fare. The 162d Infantry French Regiment were designated as 
guardians during preparations for our entrance into the trenches. 



101 st INFANTRY 15 

The officers and men of the 162d taught us the composition and 
uses of grenades and other trench weapons and trench maneuvers. 
The first day on which this French Regiment and our 101st Regi- 
ment met was the starting of a great friendship which still exists. 

When we reached the French training grounds, the Colonel 
of the 162d formed his men in line; our men did likewise; the 
regiments saluted each other and then the French soldiers came 
over and all shook hands. The 162d was considered one of the 
bravest and most splendid outfits in the French army. Previous 
to our meeting it had been recruited eleven times and had lost 
over 22,000 men. After one battle it had but twenty-two men 
left. 

On October 17th, while at the French training grounds, we 
witnessed a very thrilling aerial battle. Our planes destroyed 
six German planes during this battle, and drove six others down 
out of control. In one of the planes driven down and captured, 
the pilot of the plane was a lad of only sixteen years, and his 
observer was only thirteen years. These facts we later learned 
from a French officer. 

Hard times, no pay, and no supplies have driven the boys 
to stealing coffee from the kitchen, grinding it with stones, and, 
using toilet paper for a covering, they rolled cigarettes. These 
are tough lines, but, as the saying goes, "Necessity is the mother 
of invention." This was necessary because small packages of 
Bull Durham were costing twenty-five cents each, or could be 
exchanged for ten two-cent stamps at a certain welfare canteen. 

For the past two weeks we have been drinking our coffee 
raw, as there has been no sugar, and of course we have not had 
any milk since our arrival; but today we are a bit harder hit 
than ever — no coffee at all, no bread, or no hard tack; just plain 
beef stew. 

On the evening of October 20th an alarm was given that an 
air raid was expected, and all lights about the camp were 
ordered out, but nothing out of the ordinary happened. The 
following morning we learned that five monster Zeppelins, after 
an attack on London, were lost in a fog and went off their course, 
heading toward the interior of France. As soon as these 
Zeppelins were discovered, our aviators went up, and after a 
short battle brought one of them down, just outside of Neuf- 



16 DEAR OLD "K" 

chateau. This machine had accommodations for forty-two 
passengers, and carried three months' stores. 

On October 23d, we went by auto trucks to a town called 
Midreveaux, for practice in laying out and digging trenches. 
This was the beginning of a long session of excavation. The 
poets have sung of "The man with the hoe," but where, oh! 
where is the poet who can do justice to "The lad with the pick 
and shovel"? 

It was about this time that we met a lot of the Colonial 
troops of the French army. Among the most interesting of 
these were the Algerians. These colored troops, whom we later 
met more frequently, were a peculiar race. They were used more 
for moping up in battle than for any other purpose. These 
Algerians possessed many queer habits and beliefs, among which 
was that if they had in their possession some portion of the 
body of their enemies, they would go straight to their heaven. 
In Neufchateau there were several of these Algerians, who were 
in the hospital recuperating from wounds, and on their tour of 
the city they made the acquaintance of our boys. Our boys 
and they became very good friends, and of course the desire to 
learn English struck them. The bo} r s agreed to teach them, but, 
sad to relate, it was not always the purest of English, for slang 
phrases and an occasional emphasizing phrase were mingled in. 
One Algerian, who insisted on chumming with the boys, was told 
his long sneezing name meant in English, "Cat's Paws." On 
one occasion when "Cat's Paws" was about, the boys arranged 
a meeting between him and our two chaplains. When introduced, 
the Algerian immediately proceeded to try out his English; but 
before he had gone far, our chaplains were gasping for breath, 
for he was using an English far from anything Brother 
Shakespeare ever dreamed of. 

Of course, even in hard times, one must have diversions, so 
on October 25th Pinkey Crothers announced this as his birthday. 
Just twenty-one years ago this cold world was blessed by the 
arrival of our "Will." He passed the day peacefully, reading 
two-months-old Literary Digests and borrowing butts. A more 
elaborate celebration was planned but postponed to a later date 
because of lack of funds. 

On October 26th we received our first individual instructions 




LlEUTEKAXT NKAI. H. FlSHKlt 

Sailed across with K Co Was selected to return 
to United States as instructor. 

Although Neal did not remain with the best Com- 
pany all through the jam, he was always one of the 
boys, especially in athletics. 




Douglas R. Ross 

Of K Company, winner of the Distinguished 

Service Cross 



l I st INFANTRY 17 

in the French automatic weapons. These instructions were under 
the direction of Sergeant Dyrcke, a member of the 162d French 
Infantry. This man was an expert, and told many thrilling tales 
of the early days of the fight. In one battle in which he partici- 
pated, he was caught in an advance trench with water to his 
waist, and had to remain there for thirty-five days. When 
they were choking for water they had to drink the water in shell 
holes close by, which their comrades had been lying dead in for 
many days. The Boche would take all French girls and childless 
married women between the ages of fourteen and thirty years, and 
many of the younger, good-looking girls were forced to act as 
orderlies to the Boche officers. 

Like all organizations, "K" had its star boarders. Among - our 
stars was one lad called "Mother Eaton." Ills appetite was 
only exceeded in dimension by Bruce's feet, Faddy Furcell's 
mustache, or Mike Cunningham's list of debts. One evening the 
boys gathered around the cot of "Mother," and among them- 
selves planned on going to the kitchen to get a feed of hamburg 
which was left after supper. The plan worked like a charm, 
and at once Eaton suggested that he be allowed in on the feed. 
In a few minutes one of the boys handed Eaton a dish with the 
hamburger on it, with instructions to go in a dark spot so that 
not many of the boys would be wise to the late feed. In a few 
minutes loud laughing was heard, and the sound of pebbles 
bouncing on the floor announced that "Mother Eaton" had been 
given a feed of sand and mud. 

On October 28th we had our first snow storm of the year. 
October 29th we received the first mail for more than three 
weeks, and only a small bundle of letters was received. Those 
who did not get a letter were standing about envying the lucky 
ones. One does not know what a real down-hearted feeling is unless 
he has been at war and seen a few of the boys getting letters 
from home and he received none. To add to our sadness, we 
had been looking for the paymaster for quite some time. Along 
with the few letters received this day were a few Clinton Daily 
Items. 

The weather was now very cold, wet and disagreeable. In 
the Items received we read of the terrible sufferings of the boys 
at Ayer, Mass. (Camp Devens), caused by the shutting off of 



18 DEAR OLD "K" 

the heat plant. Just then all our boys got tog-ether and drew up 
a set of resolutions, extending their sympathy and reprimanding 
the authorities for not issuing individual heaters or fur coats at 
the home cantonments. 

On October 31st two great events took place. We were paid 
a visit by the paymaster, and our shower baths were completed 
and ready for working. As for the pay ; well, that night was an 
event long to be remembered. Air raids inside the barracks were 
numerous. Hob-nailed shoes were used instead of aerial bombs. 
As to the baths — when Mike Madden asked Hughie Hanna if he 
had taken a shower bath, Hughie said: "No, why? Is there 
one missing?" 

After getting paid, the boys got together and contributed 
five francs each to a fund, and a committee was designated to go 
to Neufchateau to purchase a piano. Al White, who was a 
human auto piano and song bird, did the choosing. Al is without 
question, in the minds of the Company, one of the cleverest piano 
players in the army. 

November 5th, the first cloud hung over our Company, for 
we received word that William Johnson, of Hingham, had died 
on October 29th. On the night we left St. Xazaire, young John- 
son was taken sick and had to be carried back to the city hospital 
in St. Xazaire. Poor fellow, we all certainly felt bad, for he 
was our first loss. 

A large detail of men from K Company was sent to the 
corral to take the mules and horses to the brook for water, and 
then to clean them. They were told to take their pick, so on 
arrival at the corral (Leo) Pat Ellery found a dead mule, so he 
said he would pick that one. Hence, he was out of the detail. 

On our arrival in Rubeuville we were confronted with a very 
difficult job — Sanitation. Rubeuville, like most of the villages in 
the northern part of France, was real old and antiquated in its 
customs, and especially so with reference to sanitation. In nearly 
every home the barn in which the family cows, horses, pigs, and 
hens were kept was adjoining and leading off from the family 
kitchen, and often these pets spent much of their time in the 
kitchen. When the manure was taken from the stable it was 
usually piled in front of the house, and in many cases directly 
under the kitchen or parlor window. It can truly be said that 



101 st INFANTRY 19 

these peasants were artists at arranging the manure in piles. 
They took great pride in seeing that all corners were squared 
and looked neat. It has been said that you could almost judge 
the wealth of the people by the amount of manure in front of 
their homes. The more — the wealthier. The streets were un- 
clean. Refuse was thrown about carelessly, etc. It now evolved 
to the American soldats to make the village a model of sanitation. 
Details were taken from each Company in the battalion and 
given scrapers and heavy brush brooms,: and put to work clear- 
ing the ankle-deep mud from the roads. Stone walks were built 
and incinerators made in which to burn all refuse. In a short 
time the improvement was so great that the French people were 
bewildered. They had not been used to such cleanliness of all 
quarters. When our battalion left Rubeuville there was a vast 
difference in its general appearance from that before our arrival. 
Our white wings had gotten in their good work. 

On November 8th we were given a very interesting lecture 
by Major Carlo, of the English army, on "Bayonetry." He read 
a copy of a proclamation issued by the Kaiser entitled "Butchery 
as a Duty." This was a pleasant little essay on "Cut him deep 
and often," rather interesting. 

During the early stay in France, not being entirely satisfied 
with the regular menu presented by our Uncle, the boys made 
many visits to various French homes in the villages and also 
to the small French cafes. It was very humorous to see our boys 
with their small book on "How to Converse in French" held in 
one hand, making wild motions with the other, and then giving im- 
personations of a hen cackling in an endeavor to secure some 
eggs. About the only phrases which were learned immediately 
by the boys were "Have you got?" and "Please give me." It 
was here that the "Gimme Club" was originated. One of the first 
members of "K" to master the French language was the old 
standby, Timmy Wallace. After about one month at burning the 
midnight oil, and attending classes in the village cafe, Timmy 
became so proficient that he could ask the pretty barmaid for 
any number of bottles of beer from one to three — this by raising 
one or three fingers and mentioning the word "beer." 

On securing a feed in one of the above-mentioned cafes, you 
^vere presented with a fork, but no knife. Every soldier was sup- 



20 DEAR OLD "K" 

posed to carry his own knife. This was a queer custom, and it 
was hard for us to get accustomed to it. At first the long French 
loaf was much abused by being torn to pieces. The boys suggested 
that inasmuch as the French are supposed to be great lovers 
of peas, that each man was to carry his own knife, because he 
could then know exactly how to balance the peas with it and 
thus prevent them from rolling off. 

We were now issued our first underwear in France. We 
donned the new fleece-lined garments of real army type, and the 
Germans never kept us half as busy as that underwear. On No- 
vember 10th our Regiment paraded for General Edwards. On 
November 11th, after working all night getting things about the 
camp to shine, we shined our shoes, so that we might line up on 
the muddy village road to be inspected by Generals Pershing and 
Edwards. The impression made by General Pershing on the boys 
on this visit was anything but favorable. His remarks and ac- 
tions werq about as sarcastic as could be made. 

November 12th we learned of the initial skirmish between the 
Americans and the Boche, which took place on October 25th 
between the Artillery, and on November 2d between the Infantry. 
Our men had just taken over a position on the line, and were in 
only ten minutes when the Boche attacked them. A real hard 
fight followed, and twelve of the Americans were taken prisoners ; 
but all twelve were so badly wounded they could not continue, 
which accounts for their capture. This fight was by men of the 
1st Division, which was a splendid outfit and always made good 
wherever they were put in to fight. 

On arrival in France we found a terrible shortage of sweet- 
meats ; and not receiving sugar or candy in the rations, we 
had a great craving for candy, so most of the boys wrote home 
requesting that large boxes of various candies be sent to them. 

An order came through ordering the transfer of James A. 
Brickett from "K" to Divisional Headquarters. Jim was placed 
in the office of the Judge Advocate General of the Division, and 
he certainly made good with a bang. Jim was later recommended 
for a commission, but, like the cases of a large number of other 
good and deserving fellows, the wheels of reward were slow, and 
the commission did not come through until long after the armis- 
tice. Jim's brother, Ralph M. Brickett, was later transferred 



101st INFANTRY 21 

to Division Headquarters along with Harold F. Barnes. Ralph 
was later commissioned a Second Lieutenant. 

On November 15th we were greeted with a very pleasant sur- 
prise. The clouds opened up and a ray of sunshine actually burst 
forth, the first sun we had seen for more than three weeks. By 
this time the boys had decided that the poets had too strong an 
imagination when they were writing of "Sunny France," for we 
had found about as much sun in France as we found silver in the 
"Silvery Rio Grande" on the border. 

This day I received a large box containing twenty pounds of 
fudge made by the girls in Miss Nellie Moran's cooking class of 
the Clinton High School. I could hardly believe such wonderful 
candy ever existed. These little girls were wonderful to go to all 
this trouble and expense, but if they could have heard all the 
very complimentary things said about them by the boys as I 
distributed the candy they would feel well repaid. November 
18th Companies K and M played a game of football. K Company 
won, 12 to 6. 

Each night about 9 o'clock the Catholic boys of "K" would 
assemble in one of the barracks and recite aloud the Rosary. 
Many boys from the other companies of our battalion joined in 
this practice. One thing the boys always kept in mind was their 
religious duty, whether it was Catholic, Protestant, or Jew. They 
felt it would make the folks at home happier if they knew they 
were faithful to their duty to God. And they were faithful. 

November 19th was a big day. K went to the village of 
Frebercourt for instructions by the French officers in the new 
formations for battle. We learned that the date of our going 
into the trenches had been set, and all the boys were happy. On 
the return of our heart-breaking sergeant from school yesterday 
we learned that what has been said about cooties is all too true. 
The Sergeant stripped down and we had our first experience in 
shirt reading. This day three of our boys were put under quar- 
antine for scarlet fever. 

November 21st saw quite a scare on the scarlet fever and half 
of K Company is now under quarantine. When the word was 
passed around that the barrack was converted into a pest house, 
a mighty cheer arose from the occupants, for it meant that the 
boys would not have to get up early mornings and there would 
be no drills or work. 



22 DEAR OLD "K" 

When they were sure of being caged in, a few of the boys ran 
down to the mess shack and took the piano up to the pest house 
(barrack No. 1) so that they might keep up the gleeful spirit. 
Three cases of scarlet fever developed among our boys, and one 
case of Infantile Paralysis in the company stationed with us. 

All the men under quarantine were forced to eat in a separate 
line at the back door of the mess shack. These suspects, which 
by this time were composed of nearly half of K Company, were 
nicknamed the "Germ Brigade." Dolly O'Toole was caught in 
the quarantine and was having things pretty soft as to work and 
so forth; said he knew a fellow who had a bottle of measle germs 
which he could borrow as soon as the scarlet fever died out. This 
he thought might be a good plan to keep him on the "bunk fa- 
tigue" detail, which means nothing more than nothing at all to 
do. The quarantine was not lifted until November 28th. 

On November 25th we were visited by a terrific hail and wind 
storm. The wind blew the roofs off several of our barracks. 
November 27th, like a gift from heaven, a load of soft coal was 
delivered to the officers* barracks. This was left out in the snow, 
which now was nearly two feet deep, until after dark. Of course 
to use general etiquette, which is required in a case where a pri- 
vate or Non-Com is planning to steal from his superior officers, 
it is customary to wait until after dark before taking. This we 
did, and considerable soft coal from the officers' one-half ton was 
used for heating purposes in our private barracks. The above- 
mentioned coal was the very first we had seen since leaving home. 
November 29th. "Thanksgiving Day." For this day great 
plans had been made. Each company was furnished with a turkey 
dinner and all the "fixins." Athletic games were held, and every- 
thing that might tend to make the day a cheerful one; but. try 
as they would, it was hard for the boys to keep their minds on 
any but the folks at home. A Thanksgiving in France at war 
is not a Thanksgiving. There was a big football game between 
the 101st Infantry and the 101st Engineers (formerly 1st Corps 
Cadets). 101st Infantry won, 3 to 0. 

During the course of the game, one of the officers of the En- 
gineers thought his team was not getting a square deal, so after 
a slight argument with Chaplain George Connor, of the M. P.'s, 
who was acting as referee, he pulled off his sweater and rushed 



101st INFANTRY 23 

into the game. As he reported to play, one of the buglers in our 
band sounded Officers' Call. In the very first play this Engineer 
Officer was knocked out, and as they carried him off the field, th< 
same bugler sounded Taps. 

The 162d French Infantry were guests at the game. The 
French colonel said after the game, "It is wonderful — but it is 
no game." 

On November 30th, 1st Sergeant John F. A. Melledy and 
Supply Sergeant Paul L. Devaney left the Company to attend 
an officers' candidate school at Langres. The members of the 
Company lined up and gave the two boys a grand send-off. 

December 2d it started to snow and continued at intervals 
every day until December 7th. December 4th we were marched 
from the barracks to a hill two kilometers away for trench drills, 
digging, and camouflage instructions. This was known as Hill 
No. 361. It was a real stony and heavy-ledged hill, and afforded 
plenty of exercise when trying to dig trenches. The pick and 
shovel did not always work as gently as one would like. Day 
after day the companies would march to the hill and have various 
maneuvers. The weather at this time was very cold, and the 
ground covered with snow; it was a real taste of war. The men 
did not have gloves, and shoes were not very plentiful, so standing 
around in the snow and water from early morning until late after- 
noon was severe on the men. 

Before daybreak each morning the Company would line up for 
a meal of well-done bacon (two pieces) and a supply of hard 
tack, and then march to Hill No. 361. After maneuvering and 
digging there until late afternoon, the companies would be dis- 
missed to return to their barracks and line up for supper, another 
sumptuous feed of two or three well-done slices of bacon and 
more hard tack. It is too bad we all couldn't look at the hard 
tack like Willie Pitts. The first time he saw our Mess Sergeant 
giving out hard tack, Willie immediately announced, "Oh, boys ! 
we are going to have cookies for supper." After two weeks of 
this drilling in the snow and wet our shoes and clothes were in 
bad shape. At night, the boys would take off their shoes and 
leave them near their bunks, the shoes would freeze, and on several 
mornings when they could not get them on they were compelled 



24 DEAR OLD "K" 

to put a piece of paper in the shoes and set it on fire to melt the 
ice. They could then pour out the water and put them on. 

Talking about bacon reminds me of a good one: Late one 
evening, one of our real "hash hounds," who lived always looking 
forward to his next meal, asked Sergeant Bill Roach what he was 
going to have for breakfast. Jim Kirby, always alert to add his 
bit of humor, broke right in and said: "What do you want to 
ask that question for? Why don't you ask, 'What kind of 
bacon?' " 

On December 5th the turn for stevedore work fell to the lot 
of K Company, each company taking it in turn. This work was 
performed at the railroad yards in Neufchateau. While in the 
Neufchateau yards, a number of troop-trains bearing French sol- 
diers entered the yard and stopped for a few minutes. I was told 
that when one train started a number of French soldiers rushed 
to a stack of American mail bags which were on the platform and, 
grabbing up eight bags of American mail, threw them onto their 
train and disappeared. A report was immediately entered and 
word was telegraphed ahead, but only a few empty sacks were 
found. This was a splendid form of showing thanks for our 
having joined France in her cause. 

On Sunday, December 9th, after dinner, two football teams 
which had earlier in the week been selected repaired to the battle 
grounds to see which platoon in the Company was the best. The 
first platoon was named the "Bucket of Bloods" and the second 
platoon the "Cut Throats." The platoon officers made several 
bets on their favorite platoon, and soon the mud was flying. The 
game had not been in progress long when it was decided that both 
teams had at least chosen their proper titles. It was a pleasant 
little game — that is, as pleasant as one might expect when hob- 
nailed shoes are worn. The "Bucket of Bloods" won, 36 to 0. 

December 15th we had a visit from the Hoover Congressional 
Committee, Messrs. Mitchell, Lord, and Reed. They remained 
with us for two days studying conditions, food, and other things. 

A very familiar trip for our boys on Sunday was to visit 
Domremy, the home of "Joan d'Arc." Domremy is a very small 
village, about eight kilometers from Neufchateau. The home and 
church in which Joan worshipped are still standing, and are in ex- 
cellent condition. A large basilica, which is being built in memory 



1018 1 I N F A XTRY 

of Joan d'Arc, is on the i the high hill overlooking the 

villa g re she had her vision and was to lead her 

- time the mail man was heaping mail and pacl _ 
on us in large quantities. Every night parties were held and old 
r. and, in real soldier fashion, thanks were 
■A to the donors. Each donor w 5 vol 

Christmas was now close at hand, and absolute! mind 

in our Company turned to the folks at home. You could hear the 
lads saying: ] ' _nd the resi 

ome or worrying about : 
Christmas arrived, and although ev< _ " - * hand to 

make the day pleasant, it was hard to feel that way. If it 
were not for all the grand pact . -rived it would I 

been a dark, gloomy day given a real g 

holiday feed. In the evening the ared a special meal 

for * • any officers and sergeants. It was a genuine banquet, 

• - _ int and c tainb void prepare 

ing meal. 

The :. Lst, 1918, started in with a howling 

blizzard and : g weather. It wat I that shing 

up - towi g trough I •: on our hands 

..em. 

Januar; _ w the first pay day of the r r, and of 

isuaJ "Pay D^; 
low and freez g weathei 
and this caused a deep slush to form, wbj We 

had rubber boo* rt while before, but 

not to be worn. 
h company had to have its own . for the 

~med to be awfully slow in picking ] 
of French. "*K' ieed fortuna- si] of 

the I could parlez Frarocai-i, but the two main star. 

-ard (T .' riin and Alexander E. Fluet. Th 

- ften called into action to help, even 

to the lending of the:, issistai gi -rung the 

fortnnal - -a.g^ queens. It 

must ha _ t tc make love through an interpret 

:aiy 13th produced the first spark of excitement 



26 DEAR OLD "K" 

our arrival. A fire broke out in one of the lofts occupied by some 
of the boys, and in a very short space of time the flames had 
gained quite a headway. The entire population was out at the 
very first announcement by the village bells that trouble was in 
their midst. The French Town Major rushed back into the house 
to get from the vest of his Sunday suit the key of the shed which 
stored the fire-tub. The fire chief, no other than the town cut-up 
himself, rushed about trying to give orders and get down to bus- 
iness. By this time the shed was opened, the fire-tub out, and, 
with about thirty doughboys pulling, the bus was soon on the 
scene of the conflagration. The cover of the well was removed 
and a number of buckets secured. These were filled from the 
"old oaken bucket which hung in the well," and each pail was 
passed from one to another along the line until it reached the 
tub, where all the water was deposited. In a short time, by 
steady and speedy work, the flames were under control, and 
work on the pump of the fire-tub let up. The hand-tub was dated 
184<7, and this was the very first time it had been used at a fire. 
The hose which was attached to the engine was of leather. All in 
all, it was a great day for our boys, because 1 of the excitement ; 
and for the inhabitants, because they knew they would be well 
paid for their losses. 

On January 16th, during rifle and grenade practice, a grenade 
exploded and blew up the tromblom, injuring one officer and two 
sergeants. These were the first casualties during our training. 

January 19th saw the first serious blow strike Company K. It 
was on this day that Captain Peter F. Connelly received his or- 
ders that he was to be transferred to a new line of work. Captain 
Connelly left Company K that day with a sad heart, for he 
loved those boys whom he had been with so long and who had 
worked so faithfully under him until Company K was one of 
the best outfits in the A. E. F. 

On January 21st we received orders to turn in all surplus 
equipment. This indicated that a move was near at hand, and 
all were happy, for, like all Americans, we were swollen with con- 
ceit. We had an idea that the generals were not aware of our 
ability as fighters, and that if we were only put up in the lines 
for a few battles, there would be nothing to it. The Germans, 
as soon as they knew we were facing them, would throw up their 



1 1 s t INF A N T R Y 27 

hands and say "Kamerad." On this same dav we received our 
first mail since Christmas Day. 

January 24th, the kitchen belonging to Company L was 
burned out and on investigating the cause it was learned that the 
cooks served bacon for breakfast and also for dinner and were 
preparing bacon for supper, when the boy-, were tipped off and 
they were bound to prevent it, so they simply set the kitchen 
on fire as a protest. You may lead a horse to water, but you 
can't make a doughboy eat bacon three times a day. 

We now knew that the time for our going into the lines was 
near at hand. The boys all attended divine services, so we were 
now ready for orders of any kind. Many took baths in small 
bacon cans of water and put on the new underwear just issued, 
and some of the boys suggested that we sew ourselves in for the 
winter. 

On January 31st the order was issued and put into effect 
that all the old campaign hats would be discarded and all would 
henceforth wear the bonnet de police (overseas cap). 

February 1st, Sergeant Howard J. Cummings and myself 
were notified that we had been commissioned as Second Lieuten- 
ants, dating from January 29th. We were both discharged from 
pany K to accept our commissions, and on our acceptance 
were both aligned temporarily with K Company. The following 
day was spent by us in shopping tours, trying to buy Sam Brown 
belts and other equipment which might prove to the men that we 
were honest-to-goodness brand-new Second Lieutenants. 

February 3d our entire Regiment marched to Xeufchateau 
and assembled in the square of Joan d'Arc. Here a large stand 
was erected on which Chaplain M. J. O'Connor offered up Mass 
and Chaplain Lyman Rollins gave a very stirring sermon. It 
an imp: service. Directly after the service, General 

Edwards presented to Colonel Logan a set of colors which were 
donated by the Governor and his Council of Massachusetts and 
sent by the Governor to the 101st Infantry in France. 

February 6th. The big event has at last happened. Orders 
were issued that our battalion would make up packs and at 4 
o'clock fall in, ready to move out. At this announcement I 
boys cheered and sang and made merry. One would think it was 
a picnic they were going to instead of into battle. At 6 o'clock 



28 DEAR OLD "K" 

the bugle announced Assembly, and within a few minutes we were 
marching through the muddy streets of the village on our first 
lap of the journey. 

As we marched away, all the inhabitants were out with lanterns 
waving a last farewell, and in nearly every case the older people 
were crying, for they realized only too well what we were about 
to face, as they had suffered their share from the effects of the 
war. Our boys bid them a fond good-by, and many made prom- 
ises that if they were spared they would pay a return visit to 
the village. 

As the line cleared the bridge leading from the small village, 
a prayer was offered up by the boys that God in his mercy would 
protect all and give us the courage to do our duty properly. At 
last the freight yard was reached and we were huddled together 
in the famous 40 or 8's, and on our way to a point somewhere, 
we knew not where. 

After being huddled into the space allotted our Company, 
the signal was given, and away we started. Leaving at 8.30, 
we rode all night and the next day until 9.30 at night, when 
we reached the detraining point, Braine le Chateau. We hiked 
at once to a camp about seven miles distant, and were billeted 
for the remaining few moments of the night. It was a stiff 
hike after riding so long in the crowded cars, but all were anxious 
for our new experience. Hard as our portion of the hike was, 
we had a simple task compared to the first and second battalions 
of our Regiment. They were hiked from the same detraining 
point right up to the front ; the first battalion marching twenty- 
four kilometers and the second, eighteen. The first battalion 
was placed in the front line and the second in the support line. 

One incident which occurred during this trip in the trains : — 
A member of M Company, of Hudson, was sitting on an old box 
in the doorway of his car and fell asleep. During his sleep 
another train coming in the opposite direction rattled by with 
great speed; the noise frightened the sleeping lad, and he jumped 
up and walked right out of the car door and against the fast 
moving train on the opposite track, putting his hands through 
one of the car windows and then falling to the ground between 
both trains. We all felt that he surely met his death, but reports 
that reached us later said the only injury he received was two 
broken or sprained ankles. 



101st INFANTRY 29 

The following afternoon (February 9th) at 3 o'clock, orders 
were given to break camp, and at dusk start for our position, 
which was in the Reserve line. The hike was a tough one, for 
we had to cross fields and climb hills which had recently been 
blown up during a terrific battle. It was about 11.30 p. m. 
when our destination was reached, and right here was one of our 
greatest surprises of the war. When we reached the crest of the 
hill our "dug-out" was pointed out to us ; it was necessary to go 
down a steep incline for about one hundred yards to reach its 
entrance in the side of the hill. On reaching the entrance we 
marched into the dug-out in a column of squads. First to behold 
electric lights, then a stable containing about twenty horses and 
many wagons, a blacksmith shop, a canteen, a hospital, and a 
chapel. Our impression of a dug-out was a small hole in the 
ground covered with a few feet of dirt, but this dug-out certainly 
"started our wonders," for it could accommodate nearly twenty 
thousand people. 

This particular spot was originally a "chalk-mine" {Rouge 
Maison). The story we later learned was that German firms 
had contracted with the French Government for this chalk and, 
shortly before war was declared, complained to the French 
that the chalk which was used for dolls, etc., was being mined 
poorly, and requested leave to put their own German workmen 
on the job. This request was granted, and the Germans ar- 
ranged the mine so that later it might be used for an army post. 

This position was at the very edge of the famous Chemin 
des Dames section which had seen such terrific fighting. This 
at one time was one of the beauty spots of France, for on it 
the kings and their ladies enjoyed long strolls. Thus it gained 
its title, "Chemin des Dames." In October, 1917, one of the 
most bloody battles of the war occurred on this Chemin des 
Dames plain. For fourteen days the French continued to bom- 
bard the hills which were held by the Germans for more than a 
year and were now strongly fortified by them. During these 
fourteen days the French had their cannon lined hub-to-hub for 
a great distance, and at the end of this time, by a marvelous 
bayonet attack, they drove the Germans back and won the hill 
and plain. 

As a result of this battle, on the side of the hill just out- 



30 DEAR OLD "K" 

side this famous dug-out entrance, were buried close to thirty 
thousand bodies. The dead were so thick here it became necessary 
to dynamite the hill to cover the bodies. This number of bodies 
may be exaggerated by the French officers who told us, but on 
a warm day the stench was such that we felt it must be true. 
One of our boys saw a good pair of leather boots sticking out 
of the ground, and, on approaching them, was elated at his 
luck until he pulled them up and found a leg in each boot. 

We remained in this position for seven days. One of our 
greatest difficulties was to secure rations, which had to be brought 
up from the rear. On several trips it was necessary to take the 
horses and mules out of the wagons and have the men pull and 
lift the wagons over the shell-torn roads and up the hill. 

In our dug-out the French, to show their appreciation and 
joy at their victory in winning back the Chemin des Dames, 
carved a very beautiful chapel out of one section of the chalk. 
There was an altar, statues, images, and passages from Scrip- 
ture, all carved on the walls. It was an impressive spot. The 
chapel is dedicated to Our Lady of Victory. In this chapel 
Father O'Connor said Mass on our first Sunday in the lines, and 
Colonel Logan acted as altar boy ; several of the boys acted as 
soloists. On this same day Chaplain Lyman Rollins also offered 
up services in this dug-out, and all the boys were present. Both 
chaplains gave splendid sermons and prayed that above all the 
boys would be granted courage to carry on their task as they and 
the folks at home would like to have them. 

From our position here we could see many air battles and 
artillery duels. On our second day we witnessed a German scout 
plane dart out of the clouds and set a French observation balloon 
on fire. The observer jumped in his parachute from the balloon 
and landed safely. After setting the balloon on fire, the German 
plane headed toward the German lines, but two French planes 
which had been lying in wait took up their position and attacked 
the German, sending him crashing to earth a kilometer from 
where he hit the balloon. 

On February 12th, Lieut. George Corbin (of Worcester) 
returned to the Regiment from Officers' School, as did Lieut. 
Edgar R. Densmore, of K Company, and on their arrival Lieuten- 
ant Corbin was placed in command of K Company and Lieutenant 
Densmore transferred to G Company. 



101st INFANTRY 31 

About 6 a. m., February 13th, a reconnoitering party con- 
sisting of Lieutenant Corbin, three non-commissioned officers, and 
myself went forward to look over the front line position which 
"K" was to take over in a few days. It is always necessary that 
a party from each unit go forward to inspect the new position, 
get all instructions, see maps, and find the shortest and safest 
way to bring the troops into their new position. The relief 
of units in the front line is a very dangerous movement, for the 
least sound of moving men or extra noise places the enemy on 
his guard and makes him extra cautious and often causes raids 
to be made or a barrage of artillery to fall in the hope of catching 
you unaware. To reach our front lines it was necessary to pass 
through miles and miles of trenches, through barbed-wire lanes 
and over a ground filled with shell holes, leaving hardly a square 
foot of solid earth. 

Putting up barbed-wire entanglements in front of the ad- 
vance trenches is also very interesting. An Australian officer 
describes a wire detail very closely in the following lines : Like 
black shadows they sit back on their heels in the trench. They 
are but a handful, and to most this game is new. All are think- 
ing — some doubtless praying. It is past midnight. They may 
not see another dawn. 

An abrupt "Stand by !" and each man lifts a coil of barbed- 
wire or a bundle of screw pickets. A fervent "Good Luck !" 
from the near-by sentry, and the men crawl singly over the 
parapet, and, like ghosts, vanish into the blackness. 
The game has started. 

Out in No Man's Land the ghosts work rapidly and silently ; 
no need to speak ; each knows his task. 

Like a spark, a star shell shoots up into the sky, and as it 
bursts into a flare the ghosts remain rigid — kneeling, crouching, 
or standing. Movement means discovery, probably death. The 
star shell slowly floats to the ground a few yards from the 
ghosts, and dies out. At its final flicker, like a machine set in 
motion, the ghosts spring into movement. Time is precious, 
and these interruptions are frequent. 

Less than a hundred yards away comes the occasional spurt 
of fire from the rifle of an uneasy Hun sentry, and the bullet 
whines overhead. 



32 DEAR OLD "K" 

Suddenly a machine-gun rattles out and the rapid splatter 
of bullets hitting the ground a few feet away. The ghosts vanish. 
The game is now exciting. 

Prone upon the ground the small party lie, a few panting 
heavily from excitement. Each has his rifle thrown forward, 
every muscle tense. Their thoughts? Who can guess? The 
officer in charge feels the tension acutely. Were they seen? The 
situation is "up to him." 

His low-spoken "Some game this, boys," reassures the men, 
and they breathe more easily; but the tension does not relax. 

The machine-gun again rattles out — a low sigh of relief from 
the party, who instinctively feel they are not now in the line of 
fire. The zip of the bullets is heard to the right and high. 

"Carry on," quietly says the officer. The ghosts reappear 
and the wire entanglement rapidly grows. 

Their task completed, the ghosts file silently back. A 
sibilant "Halt !" from the sentry ; a muttered password from the 
officer. The ghosts pass one by one over the parapet, and the 
game is finished. 

Back at home in the trench they are no longer ghosts — 
just stout-hearted lads who know that it is good to be alive. 
For they can see the dawn of the new day brightening the sky 
in the east. 

It was sad to look over this once beautiful section and see 
places that were once splendid villages and now only small 
rubbish piles ; and in several places there does not remain even 
as much as a rubbish pile, for there is not the least sign of a 
village having been there, the ground being perfectly clear from 
even debris. The only proof of a house or village is by its being 
indicated on the maps. 

During the fighting in this particular section in 1916, when 
the French had made elaborate plans for their attacks, greater 
success would have been attained but for the unfortunate inci- 
dent of the "Austrian Mistress." A high French official had 
an Austrian mistress in his house, and when she learned of the 
proposed attacks with which the Allies had hopes of ending the 
war, she communicated all the information to the Austrian 
agents ; so when the French reached a certain point in their 




Daddy (General Edwards standing beside large gun captured bj 

-26th Division 




Sergeant Edward \V. Bhadv on left : Corpob 
.1 >mi * 1". ' Dolly ) 0'Tooi e on right 
Two Croix de Guerre members of " K." 



101st INFANTRY 33 

attack they were surprised by the enemy and fell into a trap 
and suffered tremendous losses. Had these attacks gone through 
as planned, it was felt the war would have come to an end before 
1917. 

One incident that happened on February 5th, the day of the 
entrance of our Division into the lines, is well worth relating". 
It was on this day that the Germans first learned that there was 
effected some kind of a change in this section of the line. On the 
west edge of the Aisne Canal there was a small wooden bridge 
which had stood for some time, and troops from the German 
side had been allowed to go to this bridge to get fresh water; 
and by not being disturbed it was considered a friendly agree- 
ment not to bother the Frenchmen who had been going out in 
front of their lines to another well. On the above date the 
divisional observers reported to our batteries that for a start 
they might eliminate this bridge and shatter the so-called friendly 
agreement. The first target chosen was the foot bridge. The 
first shot fired landed about five yards east of the bridge, and 
the second in the center of the bridge. This was a shock to 
the Germans, and they decided that some mistake had been made, 
so they rebuilt the bridge that night ; but on the following morn- 
ing all doubt of a mistake was dismissed, when our boys with 
one shot once more demolished the bridge. Our boys have now 
and forever decided that there can be no friendly agreement in 
battles or war. It is either you or the other fellow, and the other 
fellow learned this to his sorrow later. 

Early on the morning of the 14th, Lieut. Dave Brickley was 
leading his platoon, of the Machine-Gun Company of our Regi- 
ment, out of the lines after seven days of very little excitement 
when a barrage fell and boxed them in. Dave sure had his hands 
full, for it was a tough job trying to handle a lot of mules, 
with shells falling on their heels, as well as look after his men. 
Several mules were killed, but not a casualty occurred among the 
men. On this date a very thrilling air battle took place near 
our position between five German planes and one French plane. 
The lone Frenchman was on patrol duty when the Germans 
swooped on him and a lively time followed. The Frenchman 
drove down two Germans and then escaped to his own rear. 
Later, the same afternoon, a number of Germans flew over and 



31 DEAR OLD "K" 

dropped three bombs very close to our dug-out. Needless to 
say this caused a great scramble by the boys, who were lounging 
outside the dug-out, and in the mad scramble of dodging into 
a shell hole several fellows landed on top of one another, one land- 
ing on my leg and wrenching same. It was here that I decided 
that Bainsfather's Cartoon of Bill and Alf saying, "If you 'nows 
of a better 'ole, Alf, go to it," was all too true. 

This date marks the historic event of the issue of our first 
"cootie cream." It also marks the second of the discovery of 
said "cooties in our midst." Little did we realize what a lot 
of inconvenience we were to be put to by the above pests. 

On February 16th our joy was great, for we were ordered 
to go by platoons to the Town of Vailly, at the foot of the hill 
about one kilometer to the rear, to get a bath and to separate 
ourselves from our newly-acquired companions. On our reaching 
the bath house, which had been put up by the Croix la Rouge 
(French Red Cross), we were disappointed to find it not work- 
ing, as the pipes in the boiler, steaming plant, and water tank 
were all frozen. We were told, after an hour's wait, that it was 
no use and to return that afternoon; but, like all outfits, we had 
our "handy man" around in the person of Dolly O'Toole. Dolly 
decided he could remedy it all, so he set to work and before he 
finished he had turned every wheel and valve in the plant. All 
the boys ran out and waited to see Dolly and the boilers go 
heavenward, but through good luck rather than knowledge of 
boilers something gave, and, in a little while, we were having 
our long-promised and much needed bath. 

About 19.30 o'clock (7.30 p. m.) the advance guard of K 
Company, which included Sergeants Martin H. O'MaUey, George 
Mealy. Corp. Stanley McLeod, Corp. John P. Kane, and myself, 
started for our new position in the line. After roaming a few 
kilometers out of our way, we finally reached the P. C. (Post of 
Command) of our first position in the fighting line about 24* 
o'clock. The place which was assigned to K Company was located 
directly in front of the west edge of the Aisne Canal. Our sub- 
section was laid out in a large ravine which formed a sort of 
horseshoe effect, our two advance positions being out near the 
ends of the shoe and the P. C, or Company Headquarters, about 
where the cork of the shoe would be. 



101st INFANTRY 35 

The distance between our advance posts and the German 
lines was about 600 meters, with the ruins of an old farm lying 
between us. There was a French unit on our Immediate right 
and another on the left. This was the formation all along our 
particular section, as the Regiment was placed here with the 
French troops for preliminary training in trench warfare. 

For our advance party to reach the point of entrance to 
the P. C. of the new position, it was necessary to go down a 
very steep hill a distance of about fifty yards. The hill was so 
steep that a rope was provided and tied to trees from the top 
of the hill to the path into the P. C. On our attempt to descend 
by means of the rope, it was dark, and we lost our footing. To 
us it was a joke, so we allowed our spirits to hurst into laughter. 
As soon as we reached the foot of the incline, a French officer met 
as, and on our answering his challenge, he informed us that he was 
sorry we came at this time, as they were being attacked by the 
Germans. 

Our little party prepared immediately to lend our aid to 
the outfit located there, and as each one of us (ambitious, but 
rookies in the game) looked out ahead into the trees and 
shrubbery, it looked to us as though each twig was a German. 
After great excitement and anxiety, much on our part, it turned 
out that all the fuss was caused by two Americans losing their 
way coming in from the advance post. 

Early next morning our detail drew a sketch of the assign- 
ment of platoons, so that one of the advance party would meet 
each platoon, and guide it directly to its assigned position. 

The famous City of Laon, which was a great German head- 
quarters, was directly in front, at a distance of approximately 
fifteen kilometers. While we went about our new position on 
the 17th studying the terrain, we witnessed the French and 
American artillery bombard the City of Laon. 

At 22.35 o'clock (10.35 p. m.) K Company arrived and, 
without any great fuss or delay, all men were taken to their 
posts. From the time the Company arrived within range of 
sound of the enemy, not a word was spoken; and if breathing 
could be stopped, I am sure there would have been no breathing 
for fear of the enemy hearing it. All instructions and orders 
were given by guides in a low r whisper. One would think the 
enemy were within a few meters of us. 



3S DEAR OLD "K" 

lines and returning with one of the enemy dangling from the end 
of his bayonet. An order is given for a patrol, and more than 
enough volunteers are found. All arrangements are completed, 
the men are well supplied with ammunition, grenades, trench 
knives, rifles, and bayonets. As the hour of departure draws 
near, the officer in charge of the patrol assembles his men. and 
all go to the point of departure in the front lines. The H hour 
is at hand, the officer gives the signal, and with a whispered 
"So-long" and good-luck farewell from the boys who remain in 
the trench to hold the line, they hop up on top of the parapet, and 
are on their way toward the enemy lines. Our own barbed-wire 
must be passed through, and now they are in "No Man's Land.*' 
Now. it is a case of the greatest precaution. One slight sound 
might give the enemy the information that a patrol is out. and 
this will draw fire from the opposite lines. 

As you advance in the formation arranged before the start, 
you exploit every shell hole, in all clumps of bushes, back of large 
stones, etc. Your eyes are straining in an endeavor to discover 
any movement in front of you. and in a short while your imagina- 
tion is working and every blade of grass or bush turns into Boche. 
The enemy is constantly sending up flarelights, which illuminate 
the entire terrain. These lights are used to discover, if possible, 
whether or not there is anybody prowling about in the front. As 
soon as one of the flares goes up. the report of the gun firing it 
can be heard; if the patrol is quick, they fall to the ground and 
remain prone until the light fades, which time varies from five 
seconds to three or four minutes. 

A- you fall to the ground in many cases you fall across dead 
bodies that have been exposed for many days, and it is impossible 
to move, for every stir would be detected. On the burning out 
of the flare, you crawl on your stomach over the bodies ami debris, 
and if all is quiet, you arise and advance in a crouched position. 
If a flare is sent up and lights before you have a chance to get 
down, you stand in a statue-like position with face toward the 
ground and hands behind your back. You will thus look like part 
of the terrain, or shrubbery. A single move will secure a volley of 
bullets. It is perfectly safe to stand up if the flare is in front oi 
you. but if it is in your rear, you are out of luck, for the light 
would then silhouette you against the skv line. You are now within 



101st INFANTRY 39 

a few yards of the enemy wire; machine-guns sputter and sweep 
the front of the wire. This he does intermittently for pre- 
caution. You now crawl forward on your stomach until you 
reach his wires. The men designated creep along the wire to 
see what condition it is in, and if any new work has been done 
recently. This will give information as to his activities, and 
whether or not this point is being held strongly. As you lay 
there with nerves alert, and hoping against hope that you will 
not be discovered, one man wants to cough ; he stuffs his mud- 
covered handkerchief into his mouth. Another man wants to 
sneeze; he strains his energy trying to hold the sneeze back, and 
he finally succeeds. The mission is accomplished, the signal is 
passed along, and the patrol start to withdraw. 

As they withdraw, a small group is left a little in the rear to 
cover the withdrawal and to prevent the patrol from being sur- 
prised by an attack from the rear. When halfway back in "No 
Man's Land" some one stumbles over a stray grenade, and it ex- 
plodes. Immediately there is a series of flares sent up by the enemy. 
He opens his machine-guns and throws several grenades from 
his front line. The patrol is now prone in the mud, in water- 
filled shell holes, and among the corpses. All remain motionless. 
After several minutes, the fireworks cease and the signal is given 
to proceed to our lines. After giving the prearranged signal 
to our own outposts, they crawl over and through our wires, and 
are once more back in our own trench. A sigh of relief is given. 

The boys who remained in the line shake hands and embrace 
the returned ghosts to show their joy at the safe return. The 
men are covered with mud ; their equipment is covered with mud ; 
every man is pale from the excitement, and all admit they had 
obtained their desired thrills. The officer checks up and finds 
that one man is missing. The officer and two or three volunteers 
return into "No Man's Land," and after several minutes of 
searching find the missing buddy lying in a shell hole where he 
had crawled after being hit by a machine-gun bullet. On learning 
that the wounded lad cannot walk, one of his buddies carries 
him on his back to our lines. Everybody is happy and all have 
the spirit of the old story, on the return of the prodigal son. 
A hurried examination is made, and it is found that a bullet 
pierced his knee. He is rushed to the First Aid Station, where 



38 DEAR OLD "K" 

lines and returning with one of the enemy dangling from the end 
of his bayonet. An order is given for a patrol, and more than 
enough volunteers are found. All arrangements are completed, 
the men are well supplied with ammunition, grenades, trench 
knives, rifles, and bayonets. As the hour of departure draws 
near, the officer in charge of the patrol assembles his men, and 
all go to the point of departure in the front lines. The H hour 
is at hand, the officer gives the signal, and with a whispered 
"So-long" and good-luck farewell from the boys who remain in 
the trench to hold the line, they hop up on top of the parapet, and 
are on their way toward the enemy lines. Our own barbed-wire 
must be passed through, and now they are in "No Man's Land." 
Now, it is a case of the greatest precaution. One slight sound 
might give the enemy the information that a patrol is out, and 
this will draw fire from the opposite lines. 

As you advance in the formation arranged before the start, 
you exploit every shell hole, in all clumps of bushes, back of large 
stones, etc. Your eyes are straining in an endeavor to discover 
any movement in front of you, and in a short while your imagina- 
tion is working and every blade of grass or bush turns into Boche. 
The enemy is constantly sending up flarelights, which illuminate 
the entire terrain. These lights are used to discover, if possible, 
whether or not there is anybody prowling about in the front. As 
soon as one of the flares goes up, the report of the gun firing it 
can be heard; if the patrol is quick, they fall to the ground and 
remain prone until the light fades, which time varies from five 
seconds to three or four minutes. 

As you fall to the ground in many cases you fall across dead 
bodies that have been exposed for many days, and it is impossible 
to move, for every stir would be detected. On the burning out 
of the flare, you crawl on your stomach over the bodies and debris, 
and if all is quiet, you arise and advance in a crouched position. 
If a flare is sent up and lights before you have a chance to get 
down, you stand in a statue-like position with face toward the 
ground and hands behind your back. You will thus look like part 
of the terrain, or shrubbery. A single move will secure a volley of 
bullets. It is perfectly safe to stand up if the flare is in front of 
you, but if it is in your rear, you are out of luck, for the light 
would then silhouette you against the sky line. You are now within 



10 1st INFANTRY 39 

a few yards of the enemy wire; machine-guns sputter and sweep 
the front of the wire. This he does intermittently for pre- 
caution. You now crawl forward on your stomach until you 
reach his wires. The men designated creep along the wire to 
see what condition it is in, and if any new work has been done 
recently. This will give information as to his activities, and 
whether or not this point is being held strongly. As you lay 
there with nerves alert, and hoping against hope that you will 
not be discovered, one man wants to cough : he stuffs his mud- 
covered handkerchief into his mouth. Another man wants to 
sneeze; he strains his energy trying to hold the sneeze back, and 
he finally succeeds. The mission is accomplished, the signal is 
passed along, and the patrol start to withdraw. 

As they withdraw, a small group is left a little in the rear to 
cover the withdrawal and to prevent the patrol from being sur- 
prised by an attack from the rear. When halfway back in "No 
Man's Land" some one stumbles over a stray grenade, and it ex- 
plodes. Immediately there is a series of flares sent up by the enemy. 
He opens his machine-guns and throws several grenades from 
his front line. The patrol is now prone in the mud, in water- 
filled shell holes, and among the corpses. All remain motionless. 
After several minutes, the fireworks cease and the signal is given 
to proceed to our lines. After giving the prearranged signal 
to our own outposts, they crawl over and through our wires, and 
are once more back in our own trench. A sigh of relief is given. 

The boys who remained in the line shake hands and embrace 
the returned ghosts to show their joy at the safe return. The 
men are covered with mud ; their equipment is covered with mud ; 
every man is pale from the excitement, and all admit they had 
obtained their desired thrills. The officer checks up and finds 
that one man is missing. The officer and two or three volunteers 
return into "No Man's Land," and after several minutes of 
searching find the missing buddy lying in a shell hole where he 
had crawled after being hit by a machine-gun bullet. On learning 
that the wounded lad cannot walk, one of his buddies carried 
him on his back to our lines. Everybody is happy and all have 
the spirit of the old story, on the return of the prodigal son. 
A hurried examination is made, and it is found that a bullet 
pierced his knee. He is rushed to the First Aid Station, where 



40 DEAR OLD "K" 

temporary relief is given. The officer makes out his report and 
includes great praise for his brave men, the members of the patrol 
return to their dug-outs, and after a few minutes of telling their 
experiences to their pals, they lie down on the (chicken) wire- 
covered bunks and fall right off to sleep, a tired, weary, but 
happy lot. 

The intelligence sections of the various armies have in their 
possession the complete history of every unit in the enemy's 
organization. 

Each army, as a rule, knew of the general plans of their 
enemy, almost as soon as the plans were drawn up. In other 
words, the English knew when the Germans were to attack and 
the Germans knew when the English were to attack. It then 
became a battle of wits to throw the other fellow off by a variance 
of decoys, etc. 

It was on the second day in the line that the long-looked-for 
moment of thrills arrived. An order was received from the com- 
mandant of the French battalion in command of the sector asking 
that one officer, two non-commissioned officers, and seventeen pri- 
vates be selected for a patrol to go out from our lines that night. 
It was to be a reconnaissance patrol, the duty of winch was to 
proceed to the front of the enemy position and reconnoiter to 
gain information of the condition of the ground, his wires, etc. 
This information was to be used in a short while to lay plans for 
a raid on this very point. Several officers asked permission to take 
the patrol, and our Company Commander, Lieutenant Corbin, 
assigned me to the duty. I at once asked for volunteers, and in 
a very few minutes three times the necessary number of men had 
begged to be allowed to go, so the entire patrol was organized 
and plans completed for the party, as the boys called it. 

At 19.30 o'clock (7.30 p. m.) I gave the order for the start 
over the top. Every man in the party had previously adjusted 
his equipment so that there would be no rattling; hand grenades 
were distributed; each man made certain his automatic pistol 
was loaded and in good working order, and all bayonets firmly 
set and every helmet covered with cloth to prevent noise when 
crawling through barbed-wire, and also to act as camouflage. In 
front of our position there lay four double rows of wire, and 
fifty yards in front of that there were two more double rows 



1 1 st INFANTRY 41 

of it. As a general rule, each row of wire is constructed with a 
chicane, or lane in it. But this wire had no such lane. As soon 
as the order of "Up and At 'Em" was given, every man was on 
his nerves' end, and away they started with the whispered good 
luck of their buddies in the trench they had just left. Then 
the difficult task of climbing through the wire started. Any one 
who has never crawled through a few yards of barbed-wire has 
no idea of the great number of jabs and scratches one can get 
from those lovely pointed barbs. We were having splendid luck 
for a while. All except two of the patrol had gotten through 
the last strand of wire when the thrills started to come in bunches. 
It was at this moment that the enemy opened a barrage right 
onto our position, and the stunts that it took the Frenchmen 
nearly four years to learn we learned in four winks of an eye. 
I hollered "Duck," and I hadn't the word even half out when 
every man was down in a shell hole and hugging Mother Earth 
with a clasp that would have made an}^ of the girls back home 
envious. The number of peculiar and weird thoughts that come 
into one's mind at such a moment are too numerous and uncanny 
to record. My first impulse after striking the hole and trying 
to pull it in after me was to turn up my coat collar to protect my 
neck. That, of course, sounds foolish, but it is a typical thought. 
Why, I have seen boys get in under an ordinary half-shelter 
tent stretched over the trench seeking protection from the shells. 
It is like the old story of the drowning man grasping for the 
straw. This barrage lasted twelve minutes, which seemed like as 
many weeks. When the barrage lifted the patrol started to ad- 
vance toward the German line; but after going about 150 meters, 
we were greeted by another shelling, this time not so severe. 
There were about twelve shells, all air-burst high explosive, break- 
ing directly over us. This let up, and the advance was started 
again. We were now nearly 500 meters from our own lines, and 
directly in front of an old ruined farm house. In this house the 
enemy had placed for some time a machine-gun post from which 
they had a direct line on our trenches. Our duty, on this patrol, 
was to take a position around this house, and five men were to 
go inside to learn if it was now being used. This mission was 
accomplished, but no enemy was found, so the journey was again 
taken up. 



42 DEAR OLD "K'' 

The patrol continued until the enemy wires were reached. Our 
task was now to learn the condition of his wires, etc. So the 
patrol was divided into small groups. Each group being assigned 
a certain section to guard, so that no enemy patrols could come 
out and surprise our party. While at his wires another spasm 
of shelling took place. He dropped fifty-four shells in a straight 
line directly back of the patrol, and many of these shells con- 
tained gas. Our fears began to arise, for the prospect of fight- 
ing in a strange territory with gas masks did not appeal to us ; 
but, like a hand from heaven, a strong breeze blew up and drifted 
the gas to our rear. This made it unnecessary to wear the masks. 
The mission accomplished, the signal was passed and the patrol 
started back for our own lines. After as much difficulty as before 
we passed through our wires and down into our trench. The first 
thing was to check up and look for casualties, but luck was with 
us. Only one man was slightly wounded. He received a cut 
near the right eye. 

Two nights later another patrol was ordered, this time to go 
up to the edge of the enemy's first line. I asked the boys who 
were on the first trip if they cared to go again, and even in view 
of the terrible experience of the other patrol, every man with one 
exception said, "Count me in on it." Of course we all will admit 
that our appetites for thrills were somewhat appeased by the 
night before, but no man wanted to miss a scrimmage if one was 
to take place. Patrols seemed to produce the most exciting mo- 
ments outside of an attack, for there is so much to worry about. 
Every blade of grass grows into a German; a fellow wants to 
cough and it means death if he does, so he stuffs his dirty glove 
or his handkerchief into his mouth to smother it. Oh, boy ! 

About one hour prior to starting out on the above patrol the 
Ration Detail made their appearance, and along with the "always 
looked for eats," there were several bundles of mail. 

The person who has not received mail while living in a dug- 
out on the firing line, can never really appreciate to the full 
extent what the word "MaiZ" means. Among this mail was one 
large package addressed to me, so the boys all gathered around 
and decided that we would have a little party before our adven- 
ture. While the knots in the heavy rope were being untied by 
anxious fingers, all sorts of visions of angel cake, fruit cake, 



101st INFANTRY 43 

various kinds of fudge, and perhaps ;i roast chicken, were in the 
minds of the boys as they stood around. Jn life, Fate plays many 
strange tricks. At last, the knots were untied, and the covering 
removed, and "Oh, boy, what lovely stockings and Turkish towels 
were found!" Even with this disappointment, the home address 
on the outside of the bundle looked like a late news item in one 
of our local papers. 

On February 21st, at least nine air battles took place directly 
over our position. About 11 a. m. this day, three French or 
American planes flew over our position and into the German lines 
at a very high altitude. We were quite surprised to see articles 
being dropped from the planes, which gave the appearance of 
a sort of snowflakes; and greater still was the surprise, when the 
wind carried several of these articles right into our position, and 
we found that they were propaganda papers, being a speech by 
President Wilson on his fourteen points, and so forth, printed 
in German. 

On this evening, a billeting party was sent to the second 
line to prepare for the relief and the moving of K Company 
to that position. In order to reach this second line, it was 
necessary to cross over the famous Chemin des Dames road, which 
was being heavily shelled and was all torn up. About two hours 
prior to the relief of the Company, which was to take place at 21 
o'clock (9 p. m.), warning was given that the Germans were 
about to attack our position, and all men were ordered to stand 
to; and as in all cases, while in the lines, the orders are very 
explicit that every man stand fast and the position was to be 
held at all cost — fight to the last man. But, much to our relief 
and delight, this attack did not materialize. 

About 19 o'clock, Lieutenant Cummings received word from 
Company P. C. that he was assigned to a school of instruction 
at Gondrecourt; he to leave immediately. One of the men of the 
first platoon, of which he was in command, volunteered to show 
Lieutenant Cummings a short cut back to Company J*. C. ; but 
while en route to this short cut, they were both lost. On his 
approach through the brush, one of the outposts discovered two 
forms in the dark, and immediately set up an alarm. It was 
through the good headwork of Lieutenant Cummings that they 
both were not shot. It was quite a scare to all concerned. 



44 DEAR OLD "K" 

At 22.30 o'clock the Company was relieved by L Company 
of our Regiment. K Company was then going back to the 
second-line position, a distance of about one kilometer, and was 
quartered in a large dug-out called the "Pantheon." This was 
also, formerly, a large chalk mine. After the relief of K Com- 
pany, an order was issued for Lieutenant Duane and twenty-two 
men to proceed immediately for the German position, to recon- 
noiter along with a French patrol, who were to advance on our 
right. Our duty on this patrol was to guard the entrance of the 
small bridge crossing the canal, and to protect a French lieutenant 
who was to cross the bridge and make certain of the safety for 
the passing of troops, which bridge was to be used the next night 
for a raid, and on which our present patrol was to accompany the 
French troops. It was to be the first raid executed by the 
American troops along with the French. This patrol went out 
at 21.30 o'clock. It succeeded in accomplishing its purpose, and 
met with no difficulty, although at one time a German patrol was 
seen; but, if a combat took place, the purpose of our mission 
would have been lost. The Germans were allowed to retire with- 
out an} r difficulty. 

Our patrol returned to the new position at 24.40 o'clock, 
nearly exhausted and covered with many inches of mud. Shortly 
after the patrol started, rain began to fall, making it a difficult 
and exhausting task ; but not a single casualty occurred during 
the entire trip. 

On the night of February 23d, the raid mentioned above was 
to take place, but about 7 o'clock (a. m.) a French messenger 
arrived at our headquarters, handing me a message from the 
French Commandant, stating that the proposed raid was post- 
poned, owing to the fact that a French unit on our right had 
executed a raid at 5 a. m. and were accompanied by American 
troops from other companies of our Regiment. They succeeded 
in taking many prisoners. 

The Headquarters of K Company at the present time, "The 
Pantheon," was located eighty feet under ground, and contained 
narrow-gauge railroads, the cars being hauled about by small 
burros. Great sport was found by the boys, for they soon dis- 
covered that if food was given to the burros, they would refuse 
to move from the spot when ordered by the Frenchmen. The 



101st INFANTRY 45 

food was given to the little animals when the Frenchmen's backs 
were turned, and it took some time to discover the cause of the 
unusual balking by the favorite burros. 

On February 24th our position was being heavily shelled by 
the German artillery and considerable damage was done. About 
200 yards to the left of our present position was located the 
Fort de Malmaison, which was considered one of the strongest 
forts in France, but at this time was a heap of ruins. In one 
section of these ruins was located a French ammunition dump. 
One of the shells from the enemy artillery landed squarely on the 
ammunition dump, and caused a great explosion and a wonderful 
display of fireworks. 

After the bombardment, a group of our boys reported that 
they had seen a dud (unexploded shell) in a field where they were 
putting up barbed-wire, some distance from our headquarters, 
with wording painted on the side of the shell, "For the American 
soldiers." 

Once more we were treated to a happy surprise when mail 
was distributed with the rations. 

On the night of February 25th the Ration Detail arrived in 
the dug-out, and immediately a great cheer was sent up when it 
was discovered that a real honest-to-goodness turkey supper 
awaited us. True, there were not the fancy arrangements which 
one would have at home ; but my word can be taken that this 
turkey, with its present arrangements, was treated as roughly 
as any bird could be, even in the Waldorf-Astoria. 

By this time our newly acquired friends, the "cooties," were 
getting in their desperate work, and the dug-out looked like a 
reading room in a large library. Nearly every man with his 
shirt spread over his knees, straining his eyesight, as well as his 
thumb nails. One of the boys invented rather a handy scheme of 
procedure to capture these pests. He used a candle and put a 
drop of candle grease over each one. This would encase them 
and he later went over and collected all the grease and its con- 
tents. This was a time-saver, and also did not allow any escapes. 

February 2Gth two observation balloons were brought down 
close to our position — one a German and the other French. In an- 
other French balloon, located to our right, the observer feared 
that a German plane, which was hovering near, was about to get 



46 DEAR OLD "K" 

his balloon and shoot it down, so he leaped out and landed with his 
parachute; and, much to our surprise, the German aviator did 
no harm to the balloon, and it remained aloft until it was pulled 
down later. 

On February 27th the boyan (communicating trench) in front 
of our dug-out was blown up by the German artillery and a large 
shell, which proved to be a dud, fell at the edge of the entrance of 
the dug-out. If this shell had exploded, the entrance would have 
been completely closed in. About this time the boys were en- 
countering much difficulty in trying to heat their coffee with the 
use of candles. When candles were not issued, another scheme 
used was to take a small can of dubbin, which was issued for 
water-proofing shoes, put a piece of string or cord in it, and 
use in lieu of a candle. Gun oil was also used in the same way. 

On February 28th a heavy snowfall greeted us. On this same 
night K Company was relieved by M Company, 102d Infantry. 
As the Company was about to leave the "Pantheon" and start 
to the new position in the third, or reserve line, a terrific bombard- 
ment fell directly into our position, some ver}^ large shells falling 
at the entrance of the dug-out. This made it difficult to leave, 
but after carefully timing the shells, we left in small groups and 
proceeded along the Chemin des Dames road to the new position, 
which was in a small, devastated village. 

After a long and tedious hike, we reached the position in the 
Town of Celles, which was to be our location in the reserve for 
the coming week, at least. This small village, which had been 
shelled and blown up for three years, at the present time con- 
sisted of a few cellars and several skeleton buildings. Some of 
our boys were quartered in these buildings, which were merely 
shells of their former walls, and during the morning of March 1st, 
when the boys were out putting up barbed-wire and other neces- 
sary work, the roofs of three of these buildings caved in, covering 
the bunks occupied by the men and all their equipment. It was 
a turn of good fortune, and another proof that a man is better 
off out working, for if this accident had occurred during the time 
the men were asleep on their bunks, at least twenty of them would 
have been killed, or badly injured. The only inhabitants left in 
this village were a tribe of very large and healthy rats, which 
made it difficult for the men to protect the reserve rations, which 
were usually left tied up in their packs. 



101st INFANTRY 47 

On the morning of March 2d I received instructions to take 
my platoon and go down to the general dump, secure barbed-wire, 
pickets, picks, shovels, and other material; and to go out to put 
up a new line of defense in front of our present position. Being 
a stranger in the town and no traffic cops around, I proceeded 
down the road with the platoon, and at a crossroad saw a number 
of French soldiers under command of a French lieutenant. We 
stopped and after several weird attempts at French, my arms fall- 
ing by my side from overwork in an endeavor to secure informa- 
tion as to the location of the dump from this French officer, in 
my splendid French vocabulary, I lost all patience and used 
another language in which I was a little more proficient. After 

using several strong words of this language, I said I wished 

that some of these Frenchmen could only understand my 

French, or speak English. Then, my surprise and embarrassment 
were beyond description. The little French lieutenant used very 
splendid English and said: "Why in hell don't you Americans 
use your own language, and we French fellows probably could 
understand you so much clearer than your chopping up of the 
French language ! The place you are looking for is about fifty 
yards down the road." After that I always made it a point to 
try my English first. If that didn't work, then I used the arm 
movements. 

Speaking about languages, our boys always said that just 
two languages were universally spoken by our American soldiers, 
they being English and profane. During the course of the war, 
I am sorry to admit that the latter probably had a shade better 
as for length of service, and so forth. 

In this Town of Celles, the church still had three walls stand- 
ing. The roof and other wall, as well as the altar, had been 
blown to pieces. It was a sad sight to see Avhat remained of the 
images and the pictures which were painted on the walls having 
been desecrated. 

Father O'Connor said Mass in this ruined church on Sunday 
morning, March 3d. 

Several of the boys were not feeling very well, and were finallv 
evacuated to the hospital by the battalion surgeon. Among these 
was Bob Hunt. Bob had been suffering from a bad cold and 
fever for several weeks, and was finally sent to the 103d Field 



48 DEAR OLD "K" 

Hospital, which was located in the City of Soissons. After two 
weeks* treatment at the field hospital, Bob complained strongly 
of the food which was given him, and demanded that he be dis- 
charged and returned to his Company. The food had been very 
poor for more than a week, but the final break came when he was 
served canned tomato soup in pans which very recently had con- 
tained oil. This caused the above demand for discharge. On 
being discharged, no transportation was available, and with more 
than a two days' hike ahead of him, Bob and two others started 
along the highway. After making about half the distance, and 
being foot-sore and weary, an M. P. Mas met in a small village. 
The M. P. stopped Bob and his pals and demanded to see their 
pass or discharge paper from the hospital. Not having either 
they were hiked the full distance back to the field hospital, there 
to secure their paper and once more start on their journey to 
their company in the lines. Bob said the hike was worth the 
effort, just to get away from that food. 

On March 4th our Company marched five kilometers to a 
French "Human Renovating" Station. There we received a bath 
— the first water available for bathing in five weeks. All during 
this time, the boys had been sewn up in their heavy underwear. 
After our so-called renovation, it was necessary to put back the 
same underwear, but even this little relief was appreciated by all. 

March 6th the Regiment was marched a distance of twelve 
kilometers to a large field just in rear of the lines to pass in review 
before a French general, who was to present decorations to a 
number of the boys of our Regiment that participated in a re- 
cent raid. This field was situated just in the rear of the Town 
of Chessemy (Aisne). It w 7 as quite a treat to us to watch the old 
general, after pinning the Croix de Guerre on the breast of each 
of the boys, then kiss them on the cheek. After the review the 
boys decided that women should be generals, instead of men, as 
long as this custom prevailed. 

Among those decorated at this time was Rev. Osias J. 
Boucher, a Knights of Columbus chaplain, who was serving with 
our boys. Father Boucher insisted on accompanying the boys 
on the raid, and for his excellent work was now being decorated. 
Father Boucher was the first chaplain in the entire A. E. F. to be 
decorated. 




Remnants of hotel in Soissons 




The results of a heavj shelling on a village Cil\ of Hai 




Tin- canine mascot of "K" with 
his valet. Sergeant Roach, and his 
assistant, Sergeant Cummings. Bud 
was gassed in action and died Over 
There. 



101st INFANTRY 49 

March 7th, at 18.30 o'clock (8.30 p. m.) we left the Town 
of Celles and marched to a new position called the "M. 1). Shel- 
ters," these being a number of demolished trenches with little or 
no 'covering for the men. There originally had been a number 
of dug-outs in this place, but owing to the heavy shelling, those 
had caved in. In many cases the men simply spread their blan- 
kets out and slept on rows of shells, which had been left by the 
enemy when they were driven from the plain of the Chemin des 
Dames. 

During their dull moments the boys did a great deal of writing 
to relatives and friends at home. All of these letters had to 
be censored and signed by the officers of the Company. Many 
books and stories could be written from the witty remarks and 
funny sa}ungs which many of the letters contained. One fellow 
in writing to his mother, telling her about the unpleasantness of 
his association with the cooties, described them to her. and said: 
"Gee, Ma, they are awful. I hope you will never have them." 

About ten yards from where K Company Headquarters was 
situated was a German cemetery, which, of course, added to the 
pleasantness of our residence. 

Prior to leaving Framingham, Mass., an Irish terrier 
(blooded) was presented to the Company as a mascot by Philip 
H. Gibbons, of Berlin Street, Clinton. This dog, true to his breed, 
would rather fight than eat, although he was very fond of eating. 
The great difficulty which Mess Sergeant Bill Roach had was in 
keeping him out of gang fights. If wound stripes were given to 
dogs for each scar obtained in a fight in France, Bud would have 
been covered from head to foot with wound stripes. The greatest 
sport which Bud found was chasing rats through the trenches. 
He was a very efficient rat eradicator. None of these pests ever 
bothered the dug-out where Bud was residing. He remained with 
us during the trip over and later participated in several battles. 
Bud was either stolen or strayed away. Some say the gassing 
which he received during our stay in the lines in Chemin des 
Dames affected him so he may have died from same; but Bud did 
not return to the United States with us, and the boys were very 
sorry to lose him. 

When a stranger is in a strange land, what greater joy could 



50 DEAR OLD "K" 

there be than meeting a fellow townsman, and especially an old 
friend ! About noon of March 8th, while going along the Chemin 
des Dames road, a number of boys met Captain George Parker, 
son of Attorney Herbert Parker, of Lancaster. Captain Parker 
was in command of C Battery, 101st Artillery, and was much 
loved by all his men. The Captain later made a visit to the Clin- 
ton boys, and a very splendid hour was spent talking about home 
ties. 

On March 10th, about 20 o'clock (8 p. m.), a heavy burr 
was heard in the skies. Within a short time we were aware that 
a great number of aeroplanes were flying directly over our posi- 
tion, headed toward Paris with the intention of executing a raid 
on Paris. In a very few minutes the sky was flooded with great 
streams of light from the aerial search lights, there being eighteen 
or twenty of these lights endeavoring to locate the planes, so 
that the anti-aircraft guns might get in their work; but all this 
without result, as locating and destroying planes at night is an 
almost impossible task. 

The following day, official reports stated that sixty aero- 
planes had raided Paris, leaving a casualty list of 150 dead and 
wounded civilians. 

As one looked over all these lights in the skies, one could 
not help but cast one's memory back to Coney Island, and, of 
course, such pleasant thoughts always helped some. 

David Rome, of Hingham, was on gas guard. A few yards 
away were the remnants of two old trees. After standing out in 
the cold for several hours, Dave's mind began to roam back to 
America, and he was thinking what a splendid sight the Statue 
of Liberty would be, when suddenly he was aroused by a loud 
shriek and screeching coming from the direction of the trees. 
After several minutes of weary, watchful waiting with bayonet 
alert, and the bolt of his rifle set, it was discovered that the voice 
and screeching came from an old owl in one of the trees. Dave 
said he never did like owls, anyway. 

On the night of March 13th equipment was packed, packs 
slung, and the Company marched into the front line position. 
This time "K" was located in the Town of Filain. We realized 
that this was formerly a town only because it said so on the map ; 



101st INFANTRY 51 

otherwise, no one would recognize it as such. It looked like or- 
dinary debris seen in the dumps in the cities or towns at home. 
Only a few months before this particular location was the scene 
of terrific fighting, and at. present indications looked for an en- 
core of the same thing. The dug-outs used were formerly old wine 
cellars (now without wine). All movements going to and from 
the front lines were made after dark. As one fellow said, "We 
are living the life of a burglar, for you have to sneak in and 
sneak out again before daylight." 

The boys were huddled in the various dug-outs. In one in- 
stance, one whole platoon, consisting of fifty-one men, were 
crowded into a dug-out which had accommodations for twenty-two. 
One fellow said that he was going to write home immediately and 
tell his mother not to send any more socks or sweaters, but to 
please send a hammock, so that he might hang it from the ceil- 
ing and thereby dodge elbows and knees while taking a wink or 
two. 

On the night of March 14th the first platoon was ordered to 
furnish a patrol to go out to a small clump of trees, a distance 
of about 200 meters, and locate the position of a sniper's post, 
which had been doing much damage. The sniper had a direct 
line of the door of Company P. C, making it dangerous to 
enter or leave, especially during the daytime. A sniper was 
also located in the same vicinity, using a thirty-seven millimeter 
gun. It was exceptionally poor for our health while located in 
this section. The patrol was under the command of Lieutenant 
Schoonmaker and Sergeants Brady and O'Malley, with fifteen 
privates. Lieutenant Schoonmaker was a very brave and fearless 
officer, and on all occasions men were always glad to be numbered 
on a patrol which he was to lead. They had perfect confidence 
in him, for his cool head and dashing courage. The sniper's post 
was located and destroyed by this patrol. 

The last two days, heavy shelling was carried on by the ar- 
tillery on both sides. Much of our barbed-wire was destroyed 
bv this shelling, so on the night of March loth it was necessary 
to send a party out to repair the damaged wire and to strengthen 
our position. 

On the morning of March 16th, just as day was breaking, 
the hum of a German motor could be heard, and in a very few 



52 DEAR OLD "K" 

minutes a German aviator circled around, flew down to within 
a distance of about seventy-five meters above our trenches, making 
two trips up and down over the trenches, and on the second trip 
opened his machine-gun, firing directly into the trenches. This 
same stunt was followed out the following morning by the same 
aviator. It was the most daring stunt of aviation we had seen 
up to this time. A great many men endeavored to shoot him 
down, but without any success. His plan was to draw fire from 
our machine-guns, which would disclose their position, and allow 
the enemy artillery to fire on them. 

On the evening of March 16th, after an all-day bombardment 
by the enemy, a gas attack was started, the German artillery 
laying a barrage of gas directly between our position and that 
of the 102d, 5300 meters on our left. He continued to raise the 
artillery, passing the gas between the two positions, our position 
and the 102d, thereby forming a perfect screen of gas. He 
would then extend his range to the rear of our positions, making 
it difficult to bring up food or ammunition. This gas attack con- 
tinued for a period of thirty-six hours, being much milder during 
the last ten hours. The Company of the 102d on our left suf- 
fered 1(58 gas casualties. Not a single casualty of gas occurred in 
K Company during this time. This shows that gas discipline in 
our Company was very good. 

During the early part of this attack the gas guard in front 
of all dug-outs was strengthened. Great precaution was necessary. 
Gas curtains were lowered and sprayed with the preparations 
furnished, and in cases where no preparations were handy plain 
water was used. The man being on gas guard and relieved was 
not allowed to enter into the main dug-out. Directly inside each 
dug-out blankets hung as gas curtains. Three to five feet beyond 
the first was another curtain. The space between curtains was 
known as the safety chamber. The gas guards after relief would 
remain in this chamber until their clothes were thoroughly free 
from the gas fumes. Many cases of gassing were caused in the 
French and English armies during the early stages of the war 
by men whose clothes were saturated with gas entering dug-outs 
and remaining there, thereby causing the comrades who were 
asleep unconsciously to become gassed. On the start of this gas 
bombardment, word was passed along that all posts and every 



101st INFANTRY 53 

man must be at the alert. This for fear that the enemy might 
follow the gas and execute another attack on us. Mingled with 
the gas shells were many incendiary shells, one of these shells 
landing into one of our machine-gun positions, setting the camou- 
flage over the guns on fire, and causing some anxiety to our men. 
The machine-gunners, under the command of Lieutenant Dave 
Brickley, took off their coats and several used their shirts to 
smother the flames, and in this way succeeded in extinguishing the 
fire. 

A small observation post was located fifty yards in front of 
our main trench. This was being held by Corporal John Savage 
and Privates John Quilty and James M. King. 

During their watch three large shells landed within ten feet 
of where they were located, but, fortune being with them, all three 
were duds (unexploded shells). Although these shells did not 
explode, the anxiety of waiting for the explosion was plenty of 
cause to shake even the strongest of nerves, but all three boys 
stuck to their post until relieved. 

Early in the morning of the 16th, a warning of a proposed 
gas attack was discovered in the form of small toy balloons which 
sailed over our position from the enemy lines. These were often 
sent up in anticipation of a gas attack in order to learn the direc- 
tion and speed of the wind. Gas is usually sent over when the 
velocity of the wind runs from three to fifteen miles an hour. 

On March 17th, St. Patrick's Day, our Regiment, bearing 
many traditions from the above Saint, felt that this day should 
be celebrated in some manner. So at 4.30 o'clock a. m. our artil- 
lery decided that a reprisal was due the enemy for their contribu- 
tion of gas. At the above hour the American artillery opened 
one of the most terrific bombardments we had ever seen, starting 
directly in front of our wire and extending at short intervals 
until the entire enemy lines, for a depth of five kilometers, had 
been combed by gas, high explosives, incendiary and shrapnel 
shells. There was joy in our lines as we witnessed the damage 
being done by the artillery. On the start of the bombardment 
the German lines were completely lighted with very-lights, which 
were used as signals. If the Germans had any one thing that was 
beautiful, it was their lights. On this occasion most appropriate 
ones were used, which we felt were quite in cooperation with our 



54 DEAR OLD "K" 

celebration, they being a great variety of green lights and many 
snake rockets. We felt these two were quite appropriate to St. 
Patrick's Day. For two days smoke could be seen rising from 
the German positions, caused by incendiary shells. 

On March 19th, at 22 o'clock (10 p. m.), K Company was 
relieved by a company of French soldiers. On being relieved we 
marched to the support position in the Town of Vasseny, reaching 
there at 4 a. m., the 20th. At 5 a. m. on the morning of the 20th, 
the Germans made an attack on the position which we had just 
left, and were repulsed. 

On the night of the 20th, the French, who had just relieved 
us, executed a raid on the enemy lines, penetrated beyond their 
third line trench, and the success was far beyond their expectation. 
On reaching their final objective, two carloads of special raiding 
troops (enemy) had just arrived, with the hope of executing a 
raid on the French lines. The French immediately collected all 
the enemy from these two cars and marched them back to the 
French lines, there being seventy-nine prisoners in all. 

On March 21st, at 2.30 o'clock a. m., the Germans started a 
terrific artillery drum fire which extended from the left of the 
position just evacuated by "K" all along the English front. This 
drum fire continued for eight hours, and was followed by their 
terrific infantry attack of the 21st. We felt indeed fortunate for 
having the good luck of just being relieved. At 2 a. m. this day 
we left Vasseny and marched to Braine. We rode all day on our 
cars de luxe (freight), reaching Braine le Chateau at 2 a. m., the 
22d. 

March 22d. Here we detrained and started on another tour 
of France, sight-seeing (on foot). After hiking 2214 kilometers 
we reached the Village of Thiel, about 10 o'clock. Here we were 
billeted for the rest of this day. 

On reaching Thiel we learned that at 10 o'clock, the 21st, 
the depot at Braine, which we had left at 7 o'clock, was bombarded 
by German artillery, destroying the depot and a great deal of 
our baggage which it was not possible to move in time. 

On March 23d, at 9 a. m., the hike was continued, passing 
through the Town of Nully, Doulevant, "Donmartin la Petite," 
arriving at "Donmartin la France" at 16 o'clock (4< p. M.). We 
billeted in this town that night. On the following morning, March 



101 st INFANTRY 55 

24th, this being Passion Sunday, a Military Mass was held in 
the village church, it being attended by the entire battalion. The 
regimental band played during the service. As Father O'Connor 
read the Mass, Colonel Logan read the Passion from the pulpit. 
In the afternoon our band gave a concert, which was a great treat 
for the inhabitants. Chaplain Rollins held his service in the 
public square, and the whole Regiment attended. 

On Monday morning, March 25th, the hike was resumed, leav- 
ing Donmartin at 7.30. On this hike we passed through Moran- 
court, and reached the City of Joinville at noon, Joinville 
being the big brewery city of France. During this hike 
great plan-, were laid on what was to take place on the stop 
in Joinville. Timmy Wallace had been fingering over a half-franc 
piece in his pocket with great visions of a cool bottle of beer at 
the end of his hot march ; but when things came to pass, and Timmy 
extracted the one-half franc, to his chagrin he found that it was 
a small medal which he had instead of a half-franc. So Timmy 
was then forced to use his power of persuasion on one of his 
friends, who was in a position to get two bottles, splitting 50-50. 

March 26th, the Company left Joinville and proceeded on 
the hike, reaching the so-called rest area, Trarnpot, about 11 a. m. 
March 27th. 

As one outfit passed another, the first question always asked 
was, "What outfit, buddy?" Shortly after dusk, one evening, 
just as we were coming out from a stiff battle, we passed some 
troops on the road. One of them hollered out, "What outfit, 
buddy?" and Stanley McLeod replied, "The 101st Painters and 
Paperhangers." Some one else said it was Y. M. C. A. replace- 
ments. On each occasion it was a new name. 

March 28th, the Company was ordered to secure the baggage 
which had previously been stored in this village. 

March 29th, orders were given to collect and repack the bag- 
gage and turn it back for storage as the rest period was then 
over, this being nearly twenty-four hours for rest. 

At 6.30 o'clock, April 1st, Easter Sunday, trucks arrived at 
Trarnpot. The Company was piled into the trucks, and imme- 
diately rushed to the Toul front, this being necessary in order to 
relieve the First Division, which was to he transferred to another 



56 DEAR OLD "K" 

sector, for things looked a bit gloomy, owing to the stiff attacks 
being made by the Germans. The Company arrived at the Town 
of Roulecourt at 18.30 o'clock. We remained here in the support 
position until April 12th, then moving to the Village of Buconville. 
The Company entered the trenches at Boqueteau, a part of the 
Buconville sector, at 1.20 a. m., April 13th, relieving the units of 
the First Division. This position was held for several days. Then 
the Company marched to Xivray. We remained in these trenches, 
which were in very poor condition, for sixteen days and nights. 
Men would stand on watch all night in water above their knees, 
and when relieved at daybreak would return to their dug-outs, 
leaving only a small outpost in the advance positions. It was 
then necessary to pump the water out of the dug-out before the 
men could sloop. 

It was during our stay in Xivray that Austin Ryder had his 
name placed on Hie tablet with great men of famous sayings. In 
our present trenches, the mud and water was nearly hip-deep. 
About the thirteenth or fourteenth night, and during a rain-storm, 
Austin Ryder began to feel peeved; so, turning to one of the non- 
commissioned officers, he exclaimed in his rich touch of Irish 
brogue: "Hero we've come 3,000 miles to fight those birds over 
there and now we are stopping in these holes within a hundred 
yards of them ! Are we afeared of thim, or phat !" Austin wanted 
action. 

During the night of April 19th-20th, the Germans put over 
a terrific bombardment, consisting of a great deal of gas, on the 
Town of Seicheprey, this being held by 102d Infantry. The 
bombardment continued for about five hours, and was followed 
by an attack on the town by the so-called "Hindenburg Traveling 
Circus," consisting of about 1,200 selected troops. The town 
was taken by the Germans, inflicting great losses on our men, they 
being nearly five to one superior in numbers; but the courage and 
devotion displayed by the men of the 102d Infantry and 102d 
Machine-Gun Battalion were beyond description. The fight con- 
tinued all day the 20th. 

During the heavy bombardment by the enemy in preparation 
for the attack on Seicheprey, a very heavy shelling of gas fell 
on Xivray and Rambucourt. I Company, which had been located 
in the Village of Marvoisin, was being relieved, and on its way to 



101st INFANTRY 57 

Rambucourt, when this gas started. Many casualties were caused 
in I Company. One whole platoon was trapped in a field and 
was in desperate straits. Bill Roach and a ration detail from 
"K" happened along and directed and led these men to their vil- 
lage. Several gas casualties occurred in "K" on this occasion. 

On the morning of the 21st, two companies of the 101st In- 
fantry were sent forth from the support line under the command 
of Capt. Thomas F. Foley to act as counter-attacking troops. 
These counter-attacking troops had to pass through the German 
barrage to reach the position just in the rear of Seicheprey, but 
through the good judgment and cool-headedness of Captain Foley, 
not a single man was lost. About noon of the 21st, the Germans 
were driven from Seicheprey. This attack was a German suc- 
cess, but for their twenty-four hour possession of the town, 
the}' paid dearly ; about 350 German dead were found in and 
about the town. American casualties were quite heavy, and 
a great number of Americans were taken prisoners. This was 
the first attack made on American troops ; and although the gen- 
eral opinion is that no victory can be claimed by our troops, the 
Germans learned to their sorrow the kind of material our army 
was made up of. They realized for the first time the unlimited 
courage of American men and the great fighting spirit which they 
possessed. 

When talking about the trenches, those who have not at one 
time or another had an abode in them always form a mental pic- 
ture of a set of beautifully dug-out lines with all kinds of bracings 
and improvements. This idea, of course, comes from seeing the 
training camp trenches. But those are things that at the front 
never happen. 

The front line trenches sometimes consist of roughly dug lines 
with caved-in sides ; often shell holes are connected up in rough 
form ; in fact, any place that will act as a covering point to keep 
the men from too great an exposure, is called a trench. 

Instead of the dry bottoms seen at the camps, many trenches 
in the lines are regular bogs ; water in some is three feet or more 
deep, and the mud is almost impossible to wade through. In 
general, the living conditions of most front line trenches are in- 
human, for between the water, mud, rats, and vermin, as well as 
the enemy — only a few yards away — one has plenty to keep his 
mind occupied. 



58 DEAR OLD "K" 

At one point on the Toul front, a great engineering competi- 
tion took place. The front lines of both sides were on the slope 
of two small hills, and during the rainy spell both sides were 
flooded with water. At one point the Boche ran a sap through 
his line and over into our trench and pumped the water from his 
front line right into ours. This was a good trick, but one good 
turn deserves another. On noting the terrible amount of water 
in our trench, it was discovered from whence it came. The sap- 
pers from the Headquarters Company were called on and, choos- 
ing a point about fifty meters below the place of the Boche water 
pipe, they run a line over and into the Boche line; then a pump 
was attached and the same water, with what we had ourselves, 
was pumped back into Jerries' line. It was a case of take and 
give. 

To show how alert it is necessary to be at all times in the 
lines, there was a distance of at least two kilometers between 
the Town of Seicheprey and "K" position on the left. To protect 
this space from enemy possession, a patrol of ten men were sent 
each half hour from both positions. One of the real novel inci- 
dents of the war happened one night while the 102d Supply Com- 
pany had a wagon going over this road with beef and other sup- 
plies to the company in the front line. The Germans had worked 
their way up to this road. On the arrival of the wagon, the 
enemy bounced on and captured it, but not until the driver, who 
drew his automatic and killed five of the enemy, was taken a 
prisoner, wounded. The mules were killed, so the enemy pulled 
the wagon over the fields and into their own lines. 

On a later date another wagon was sent over a road to the 
right of the Town of Seicheprey. The driver mistook his direc- 
tion and turned over the wrong road, and drove directly into the 
German lines. It must have been a sweet surprise to have a load 
of beef and American mail and other supplies delivered right to 
their dug-out door. 

Among the real characters of our army were the mule drivers, 
better known as mule skinners. Their tasks were quite varied 
and, although they were not in the front lines, they were sub- 
jected to many narrow escapes; for let it be known that the 
average army mule is no playful pet. One driver warned me as 
I was passing his team of mules one morning, "Look out, Captain, 



1 1 st I N F ANT R Y 59 

don't go too close to that off mule, for she can kick the head off 
a cent." 

On May 1st, a billeting party was sent from Xivray to the 
Town of Mandres (Meurthe et Moselle) to arrange for the 
moving of our Company. Late this night the Company was 
relieved and marched back to Mandres. 

On May 3d, Lieut. Howard J. Cummings, who had been acting 
as Battalion Gas Officer, was promoted to Regimental Gas Officer. 

During the recent fight at Seicheprey, all the trenches were 
broken, so it became necessary to repair them. On the night of 
May 3d, K Company furnished the digging detail to repair these 
trenches and dig new ones. They returned at daybreak, about 

4 A. M. 

During our stop in this town, the Company acted as a bury- 
ing detail for those who were killed during the last fight. We 
buried about seventy-five of the boys of the 102d Inf. Chaplain 
Rollins read services for all of the burials. On the placing of the 
bodies in boxes, which was the custom for burial, Sergeant Ed. 
Brady, who had charge of the listing and recording of these 
burials, received a great surprise. On taking out the identification 
mark from one of the bodies it was found that he was also a Ser- 
geant Edward Brady from C Company, 102d Infantry. A firing 
squad, under command of Corp. Walter Gutmann, fired the volley 
over the graves as the bodies were lowered. 

In order to protect the right flank of the Town of Seicheprey, 
it became necessary to reinforce the American position in the 
Bois de Remier, which was a distance of one-half kilometer from 
the town. So, on May 6th, I was ordered to take a detail of 
twenty-five men to these woods and put up a complete new set 
of barbed-wire reinforcement. While putting up these wires great 
machine-gun lanes were made, so that the enemy on entering the 
woods might step into the lanes, which looked very clear for 
passage, and machine-guns properly set would mow them down. 
Several German and American dead were found while putting 
up the wires, these remaining from the Seicheprey Battle of 
April 21st. 

In the Town of Mandres, there was just one French inhabi- 
tant, this being an old woman who lived in her partly demolished 
home, which had been her abode since childhood. This woman 
was a very kindly and motherly lady of about sixty-five years. 



60 DEAR OLD "K" 

On two different occasions she had been evacuated from the town, 
but upon her pleadings with the French officials, she was allowed 
to return. .V large shell-proof dug-out was built by the American 
engineers on the street across from her home. As soon as shell- 
ing would start, this old lady would run across and into her 
dug-out. She, at all times, carried a gas mask slung over her 
shoulder, and it many times became necessary for her to wear 
it. It was great to see our boys around asking the old lady 
if there was not something they might do to help her, and the 
boys took advantage of every opportunity to share their food 
with her. 

On the night of May 7th, seventy-five men from K Company 
were ordered down to dig trenches at Seicheprey. At 19.30 
o'clock the detail left their billets. It was then raining very 
heavily. To reach Seicheprey it was necessary to go around 
Dead Man's Curve and through the Town of Beaumont. Within 
a few minutes after our start the rain was coming down in torrents, 
and the thunder and lightning were terrific. In going around 
Dead Man's Curve, the lightning flashed frequently, almost blind- 
ing the boys and at the same time a heavy bombardment was laid 
along the road by the enemy. The detail reached Beaumont safely, 
but with great difficulty. It was a wild night between the flashing 
of the big guns and the lightning. It was a bit uncomfortable 
and one was not able to judge from which way the firing was 
coming or going. No work could be accomplished under these 
conditions, so the detail reported back to their billets. On our 
arrival at the billets we found that Chaplain Rollins had arranged 
with the Red Cross to furnish hot chocolate, which was very much 
appreciated. They also furnished us with new socks which also 
added to our comfort, for every one was drenched to the skin. 

Sunday, May 12th, was Mother's Day. On this day, as on 
all other days, the boys devoted most of their thoughts to their 
dear mothers, both at home or departed. A great deal would be 
given by many of the boys if they could extend their Mother's 
Day greetings in person. Several of the boys had, through the 
Y. M. C. A. and Salvation Army, sent cables of greeting in ad- 
vance. It was in this Town of Mandres that our boys first met 
the dear old Salvation Army. 

On our early meeting the Salvation Army, two girls were 



101 st INFANTRY 61 

running the canteen, furnishing doughnuts, coffee, pies, and so 
forth. They were later relieved by a man who was well along in 
years. The canteen used was in an old barrack, but this was hit 
by a shell and destroyed, so he moved his goods to an old cellar 
under a ruined house. This cellar was dark and dreary, but the 
spirit displayed by the Salvation Army lad (fifty-five years old) 
made it seem bright and cheerful. Our boys volunteered to do the 
detail work, such as pumping the water out, cleaning the Lamps, 
etc. Our boys said the doughnuts, pies, etc., given by the Sallies 
were the only foods we got which did not come in tin cans. In 
letters home the boys advised trying the bouncing qualities of 
silver on t-wry Sally's tambourine. 

A very strange incident happened in this cellar. One Sunday 
morning while Chaplain Rollins was holding service there, it being 
one of the few safe places about, the enemy began to shell. A 
young fellow from "K" was passing close by the entrance of the 
cellar when a shell landed a few yards away. This young fellow 
dove into the Salvation Army canteen right in the middle of the 
Chaplain's sermon, and with great fright at his narrow escape 
as he landed in a great pool of water, just inside the door, he 
exclaimed in a very loud tone, "Christ!" The Chaplain, who 
was always alert to take advantage of all openings, said : "Greet- 
ings. You've come to the right place." The young man, who 
rarely used any but the very choicest of language, said that he 
meant it for a prayer. 

It was while in this town, too, that the famous Dolly O'Toole's 
Doughnut Patrol did duty. The Y. M. C. A. suggested that if 
we were able to secure flour, sugar, and lard they would make 
doughnuts to be distributed on "Mother's Day." After much 
persuasion we were able to get 100 pounds of >ugar, 20 pounds 
of lard, and 2 bags of flour. We then learned that the Y. M. C. A. 
could not secure a cook to make the doughnuts. Hence, a cook 
from G Company, of Worcester, volunteered. The night before 
"Mother's Day," K Company marched into Seicheprey, relieving 
G Company. Dolly, with two other men, returned to Mandres 
to secure the doughnuts which were "K's" share, and the man in 
charge of the canteen said he was very pleased to be able to give 
them their share, which amounted to twenty doughnuts. Dolly, 
in his usual "emphatic" language, occupied the major portion 



62 DEAR OLD "K" 

of two hours in letting the secretary know what the boys thought 
about him, his system, and the organization which he represented. 
This not being the first incident of this kind certainly did not 
tend to create any better feeling between the "Y" and the boys 
in the lines. 

Directly in front of our sector was Montsec, a large hill 
which commanded a view of our whole front. In the rear of this 
hill was located a tremendous amount of artillery. As we stood 
in the trenches and looked up at Montsec, it seemed as though 
an observer on top of it could almost look down into our throats 
and see our Adam's apples. We were told that the French at one 
time in the early part of the war took the hill from the Germans 
and held it only about thirty-five minutes, losing nearly 30,000 
men in doing so. 

May 14th. the Company moved from Seicheprey to the support 
position, which was in the Rahanne Woods. On the relief of "K," 
several non-commissioned officers were left in the lines to show the 
new unit all details, and so forth. Among those left was Sergeant 
John J. (Mooney) O'Toole. About 2 o'clock (a. m.), great con- 
fusion was heard on the right end of Mooney's sector. On the 
suggestion of the officer in command, he being of another regiment, 
O'Toole and a sergeant of the new unit proceeded to where the 
bursting grenades took place. On the way through the trenches 
they were held up by a sentry, who challenged them. On giving the 
passing signal, which consisted of two taps of the hand on the pis- 
tol holster and repeating a verbal signal, the sentry dropped his 
rifle and with both hands clutched O'Toole around the throat. 
O'Toole, not knowing the meaning of this, threw his arms about 
the man's waist, and used his knee to good effect, knocking out the 
sentry. This was a good stunt, for O'Toole, who was about five 
feet, four inches in height, certainly did not let size interfere with 
his progress. He proceeded to where the trouble was, and found 
most of it was imaginary. He gave some good advice to the men 
on that post. He then returned and found the big sentry just 
coming to. He asked him why he attempted to take hold of him 
after giving the signal and the sentry replied, "I am hard of hear- 
ing and I thought you were speaking German." 

Our stay in the Rahanne Woods was quite a relief from that 
strain which we had been under up to this time, it being the first 



1 1 s t IN I ' A X T R Y 63 

time in many weeks that the boys were able to move about with 
their heads above ground and to talk in a loud voice. 

On May 21st, for the first time since we reached France, our 
battalion was treated to an entertainment by real honest-to-good- 
ness American talent. Miss Elsie Janis, stage star, came and 
gave a full hour's entertainment, singing, dancing, and telling 
stories. It was a great day for the boys, and we all appreciated 
Elsie's spirit in coming so close to the lines and entertaining us. 
On May 27th, General Passaga, Commander of the 32d French 
Army Corps, spent several hours watching the rehearsal of our 
battalion for the first "All-American" raid to be executed on 
May 30th. These rehearsals had been going on for several days. 
The General was very much impressed with the spirit of the boys, 
and said he felt sure that the raid would be a success. 

The entire day of May 28th was spent rehearsing, and that 
night at 10 o'clock a final rehearsal was held. All was now in 
readiness for the big affair. The boys had chosen the famous 
saying which originated at Verdun during the terrific fighting in 
1914, when one badly wounded Frenchman called to his dying 
comrades, who had been hit with shells which landed right in their 
midst, to fight on, "Debout le Moris" ("Up, you dead, and at 
them"). He succeeded in holding back a whole company of 
Germans who were advancing in an attack, and almost single- 
handed he held his section of the line for several hours. 

On the morning of May 30th, Mass was held near our quarters 
by Father Farrell, of the 101st Artillery, and directly across the 
path, a distance of about fifty yards, Chaplain Rollins held 
service for the Protestant boys. Every man in the battalion at- 
tended either one or the other of these services. A very beautiful 
sermon was given by both Chaplains, the subject of which was 
"Courage." Most of the boys received Communion. After the 
distribution of the paraphernalia to be used this night, the re- 
mainder of the day was spent in resting up. The raid was to 
take place west of the Town of Seicheprey, passing over a very 
dangerous terrain into the German lines on the east edge of the 
Town of Richecourt and to the west of Leahyville. Rumor had 
it that this position was being reinforced with troops in anticipa- 
tion of an attack. The intention of this raid was to get general 
information and find out if this fact was true. 



64 DEAR OLD "K" 

The following is the final order issued for the raid: 
HEADQUARTERS 

3d Battalion 
101st Infantry 

MEMORANDUM OF EXERCISES. May 29, 1918. 

1. At 21.30 the Engineers will have six gaps cut in our wire, 
three for each group (represented), with tape running back to 
point of assembly. 

2. The Liaison Officer will arrange to have a man at each gap 
in wire and a man at each 75-meter interval in the prolongation of 
the line to the enemy's wire. Also relays of runners at each 500 
meters. 

;>. The troops will entruck at this cantonment at $0.45. On 
arrival at destination they will detruck quietly and proceed to the 
assembly point. After a short rest they will proceed to a point 
50 meters in front of our wire, where they will arrive at 22 
o'clock. The men will be cautioned not to expose themselves, and 
to crawl. 

4. Flares will be sent up at 10-minute intervals from '2'2 o'clock. 

5. Group A Lt. Dunbar on reaching objective will fire Red Very- 
Light. 

Group H It. Schoonmaker on reaching objective will fire 
Green Very-Light. 

(>. At 11 plus •_'?. signal to return will be a snake rocket from 
Battalion Headquarters. 

7. All helmets must be burlapped. During the advance all rifles 
will be slung. All bayonets must be blued or smoked. 
S. Engineers will blow gaps in enemy wire. 

By order o\' M vjob Hicxey 

l.t. Dunbar John d. Riley, /./. Atljt. 

•• Schoonmaker 

" Johnson 

" Bennett 

*■ Duane 

" Price 

" Strong 1 




Dug-outs in Chemin des Dames Sector 
Support position 




Smtk AmoOuaou 

Those « ho did not m " Kamerade " and surrender are there j el 




Rheims Cathedral 
Note the condition of the building, and see how the fig- 
ure on the crucifix is left standing even with the arms shot 
away. This same thing has happened in many of the shell- 
destroyed churches. 



101st INFANTRY 65 

On May 30th, at 21 o'clock, the entire raiding party was 
loaded into ten trucks. The boys had previously been supplied 
with grenades, automatic pistols, trench knives, and clubs. Some 
of the boys wound barbed-wire about the end of the club, and a 
more dangerous looking weapon could not be imagined. The 
trucks proceeded to the Town of Mandres. Here, the entire party 
detrucked. All watches of group leaders were synchronized. As 
soon as observation would allow, the raiding party marched in 
groups to the Town of Seicheprey. The men who carried the 
torpedoes for blowing up the wire proceeded the party on the 
hike. It was a happy party, although not a single member failed 
to realize the seriousness of the whole affair. As we left our 
billets to start the trip, the officers and men who were left behind 
bade us good-by and good luck and promised to pray for the 
entire crowd. 

Soldiers, of course, always believe in "Signs." Some of the 
signs which bade fair for good luck were the insignias on the 
trucks which carried us forward. Each truck train, like the 
Regiment, had its own insignia. We noticed on a number of 
trucks which were used that the Liberty Bell, Bunker Hill Monu- 
ment, and the Four-Leaf Clover were painted. We, therefore, 
decided that the old Liberty Bell shall ring again and the spirit of 
Bunker Hill must prevail ; and with the luck brought by the 
Four-Leaf Clover, that crowd of boys could lick a whole army. 
Hence, they went forward determined to win. Leaving the Town 
of Seicheprey, we went to the jumping-off point, and at 1.30 all 
was in readiness. 

There was now a whole hour to wait for the eventful moment. 
All muscles and nerves were at tension, and an hour seemed a long 
time to lay on that ground with the Boche throwing up flares to 
light the terrain. A single movement might give the party away 
and betray the whole show. There is a very deep thrill always 
attached to a wait for the signal to go "Over the Top," but it is 
like the little fellow with a terrible toothache. He suffers greatly 
and is sent to the dentist to have the tooth extracted ; but as soon 
as he takes hold of the knob on the dentist's door the pain dis- 
appears, and the youngster feels better. When you start "Over," 
it is a new and wonderful sensation. 

To make passage into No Man's Land possible, and without 



66 DEAR OLD "K" 

detection, it was necessary to cut large gaps in the wire in front of 
our position. Therefore, a detail was sent out with large wire 
clippers, and they had to work with great precaution, as they 
were under observation and machine-gun fire was sweeping that 
part of the line at intervals of ten minutes. 

One of the great essentials to the success of all engagements 
is the line of liaison (line of communication). All branches par- 
ticipating must be in communication with each other, so that 
those in the rear will be informed of the success or failure of the 
exploit, and thus in case of need reinforcements can be sent up or 
more artillery can be used upon a certain point, and resistance 
therefore reduced. In a raid such as this nearly every form of 
communication is used. Lieut. Mark King, of the Headquarters 
Company, and four assistants worked for four hours laying a line 
of telephone wires from Regimental Headquarters down to the 
front line. This was to keep the Colonel informed of every move 
by our attacking troops. The actual distance from the temporary 
headquarters of the Colonel to the point of departure of the raid 
was one kilometer ( r> s of a mile), but the telephone men laid 
nearly ten miles of wire, it being necessary to lay about five 
different lines, so that in case one or more wires were cut by shell 
fire, at least one would remain intact. Owing to the difficult 
ground, which was filled with shell holes and mine craters, the wire 
men had difficulty in getting connection ready for the start of the 
party. The hour of departure drew near. Word was passed by 
the Major requesting the phone box be brought to him, but the 
return message was that no telephone connection was ready. 
There was much strong language and some confusion and excite- 
ment. Messengers were sent over the sector in search of the line- 
man in charge, but with no success. It was now within two min- 
utes of starting time. Would the phone be there for the first 
message? Just one minute remains, and up rushes a little lad with 
phone in hand and reports to the Major that connections had 
just been completed, and at this moment "H" hour arrived and 
the Colonel was notified by phone that the boys were ready to 
start on their way to German territory. 

The party now being ready, adjusted equipment, fixed bay- 
onets, and with a slightly nervous feeling awaited the signal. "H" 
hour, which was the starting time, was set for 2.30 o'clock. At 



101st INFANTRY 67 

2.05 the men, carrying along the 30-foot torpedoes, passed 
through our wire and took up a position twenty-five meters in 
No Man's Land, ready for the signal to start. At exactly 2.30 
o'clock, one 75-millimeter shell soared over our heads, and then 
the heavens opened. Never in our lives had we heard such a noise 
before. The sky was completely illuminated for kilometers. More 
than 200 pieces of artillery of all caliber were used for this bar- 
rage. A box covering both sides and back of the section to be 
raided was covered by artillery. In addition a barrage was placed 
on the first line position and advanced in jumps of fifty meters 
until the entire area was combed. In addition to all this, 72 
machine-guns under the command of Major John D. Murphy, of 
Natick, also covered the side brackets and back of this barrage, 
thereby preventing any enemy supporting troops coming from the 
sides or rear into the raiding area. 

On the signal of the first shell of our barrage the boys leaped 
out of our trenches and over the top with a yell and were on their 
way. No Man's Land was crossed, German wires blown up, and 
the first line reached without any great difficulty. This position 
had been built for an anti-tank defense, the trenches being 10 feet 
wide at the top and 10 to 11 feet deep. Our first difficulty came 
in crossing these trenches. Some duck-boards were carried, but 
it was necessary for most of the boys to jump into the trench, 
boost their pals up on the other side, and then pull their pals up 
out of the trench with the aid of their rifles. Many of the enemy 
were met and disposed of in the first and second lines. The 
Germans who were found in the concrete dug-outs were first asked 
to come out and surrender, and if they refused to do this, one of 
the torpedoes made in small square boxes, containing 20 pounds 
of TNT powder, was thrown in, and the entire dug-out blown up. 
Prizes of several hundred francs were offered to the one man or 
one group who took the largest number of prisoners ; also a trip 
back to America with Chaplain Rollins was offered. All these 
offers were forgotten the moment the boys came in contact with 
the enemy. They rather followed instructions given them by our 
Brigade Commander, General Traub, who suggested that they 
might kill all but one, and he would give sufficient information. 

On reaching the final objective, the rocket signal was sent up 
and all troops began to withdraw. The withdrawal was covered 



68 DEAR OLD "K" 

by two flanking groups of the automatic rifle men. At 3.25 all 
men were reported out of the German position. Our casualties 
during this raid were two killed and five wounded, with one miss- 
ing. William Dunphy, of "K," was never seen after entering the 
lines. No account of him has ever been received. Several prison- 
ers being taken back to our lines by the boys showed signs of 
fight, and the result was that they remained in No Man's Land, 
dying there of bullet wounds. One lone prisoner was allowed to 
survive, and he only for the reason that he became very agreeable 
after his capture. It is said that during this raid more artillery 
was used than in the entire Battle of Gettysburg, it being termed 
as the "Million Dollar Raid." 

It was a scream to see all the boys who were in the Town of 
Beaumont as the one poor little lone prisoner was being led up 
through the streets. Every fellow that was near enough tried 
out his German. The most of it was confined to "Wiegehtes." 
The little fellow, who was later termed the original million dollar 
kid, was frightened almost to death. 

What is a Raid? (The French call it Coupe de Mad). When 
information is gained by our Intelligence Branch that a new 
outfit has taken up a position directly in front of us or that 
extra activities are taking place on our particular sub-sector, ar- 
rangements are made and strong patrols organized and sent into 
No Man's Land in an endeavor to capture prisoners or to secure 
definite information. It is the duty of the commanding officer in 
each sector to know at all times just what unit, the fighting 
strength, and quality of troops which face him. If the patrols 
sent into No Man's Land fail to gain the required information, 
then a raid is ordered. The size of the raiding party varies from 
about twenty to four or five hundred men, depending entirely on 
the difficulty of the terrain and the approximate strength of the 
sector to be penetrated. 

The above raid, which was the first All-American raid con- 
ducted in the A. E. F., had a strange significance. It was Memo- 
rial Day, and on this very morning back in America our old bud- 
dies of the Grand Army of the Republic and the veterans of the 
Spanish- American War were decorating the graves of their com- 
rades. This morning our boys were decorating with great rever- 
ence the graves of our buddies who had recently died and were 



101st INFANTRY 69 

now lying in a little cemetery just back of the small village nearby. 
As the boys placed their token of love on the rough mound of 
earth with a prayer for the lad resting beneath the mound, little 
did they realize that before another dawn had come upon us some 
of the decorators might also be numbered on the immortal roll of 
honor and probably rest side by side in this same little cemetery. 

No man in the world could ever fittingly describe every angle 
of so small a thing as a little raid like this, but a humble effort 
may in part show a few phases and allow the reader to use his 
imagination for the remainder. 

Having learned of the proposed raid, a very eminent corre- 
spondent proceeded to Regimental Headquarters and requested 
permission of the Colonel to accompany the raiding party into 
the German lines. Realizing the danger which faced the party, 
the Colonel suggested, "You stay right here at Headquarters 
during the show, as that telephone on the Adjutant's desk is 
really the web center of all things occurring in this sector tonight." 
The correspondent accepted this suggestion and remained. He 
then wrote a description which in part is his impression of what 
he saw and heard. 

At just 2 o'clock this morning, the Colonel summoned me to 
come to the roughly built table in his dug-out and explained the 
night's plans. The Colonel, smoking a long pipe, sat in front of 
a map on which he conducted an exposition. 

"Here," he said, placing his finger on a section of the line 
marking the American trenches, "is the point of departure. That's 
the jumping-off place. These X marks running between the lines 
are the enemy wire, and here and here and here we blow it up. 
We reach the German trenches at these points and clean up. 
Then the men follow the enemy communicating trenches, penetrate 
300 meters to the east edge of Richecourt, and return. 

"Our H Hour is 2.30. It's now 2.10. Our raiders have left 
their trenches already ; they are out in No Man's Land now. The 
engineers are with them, carrying explosives for the wire. There 
are stretcher bearers in the party to bring back our wounded, and 
also signal men right behind them with one telephone. Reports 
from that wire are relayed here and we will also be kept informed 
by runners. The whole party has thirty minutes in which to crawl 



70 DEAR OLD "K" 

forward and place explosives under the wire. They will have 
things in readiness by 2.30, and then the show begins." 

Five minutes before the hour set I stepped out of the dug-out 
and looked at the silent sky toward the front. Not even a star 
shell disturbed the blue-black night. The guns were quiet. Five 
minutes more and all this was to change into an inferno of sound 
and light, flash and crash. There is always that minute of un- 
certainty before a raiding hour when the tensity of the situation 
becomes almost painful. Has the enemy happened to become 
aware of our plans? Have our men been deprived of the needed 
elements of surprise? But for thousands of meters behind us we 
know that in the black battery pits anxious crews are standing 
beside their loaded pieces, waiting to greet the tick of 2.30 with 
the jerk of the lanyard. 

Suddenly the party trembles. Through the dug-out window 
facing back from the lines, I see the night sky livid with light. A 
second later and the crash reaches our ears. It is deafening. 
Now we hear the whine of shells as they burn the air overhead. 
The telephone bell rings. 

"Yes, this is Boston." The Adjutant speaks into the re- 
ceiver. We listen breathlessly. Has something gone wrong at the 
last minute? 

"Right, I have it," says the Adjutant, hanging up the re- 
ceiver and turning to the Colonel. "X4 reports that the barrage 
dropped on schedule," he adds. 

"Good," says the Colonel. "Now, gentlemen, here is what's 
happening. Our shells are this minute falling all along the Ger- 
man lines, both in front of the part selected for the raid and on 
the flanks. Now, then, this section of the enemy's position is 
confined in a box barrage which is pounding on his front and is 
placing a curtain of fire on his left and his right and another in 
his rear. Any German within the confines of that box will have a 
damned hard time getting out of it, and so will any who try to 
come through it to help him." 

"Boston talking." The Adjutant is answering over the tele- 
phone. He repeats the message. 

2.33. "All wire blown up right." 

"Fine!" says the Colonel. "Now they are advancing and 
right in front of them is another rolling barrage of shells which 



101 st INF AX TRY 71 

is creeping forward on the German lines at the same pace our 
men are walking. They are advancing in extended order behind 
it. At the same time our artillery for the lasl three minutes has 
been dumping gas and high explosives on every battery position 
behind German lines. That*- called neutralization." 

"Boston talking." The room grows quiet again as the Ad- 
jutant takes the message. 

2.36. "Yl reports O.K.** 

"Everybody fine and dandy," the Colonel observes, smiling. 

"Boston talking." Pause. 

2.39. "G7 reports enemy is sending up three vd rockets 
east of A10. Operator thinks it's a signal for outposts to with- 
draw and also for a counter barrage." 

"Too late." snaps tin- Colonel. "There is a reception in Hades 
waiting for 'em right now." 

2.41. "Yerree good beginnings." remarks a short, fat French 
Major, who sits beside the Colonel. He represents a French army 
corps. 

2.43. "Boston talking. Kernan reports everything quiet in 
his sector." 

2.45. "Boston talking." The Adjutant turns to the Colo- 
nel and repeats, ''Pittsburgh wants to know if there is much 
coming in here."' 

"Tell them nothing to amount to anything," replies the Colo- 
nel. As lie stops, one German shell did land so close to the dug- 
out that the door blew open. An officer steps to the opening 
and calls out into the darkness, 

"Gas guard !" 

"Shell anything.'*' 

"Nothing, sir. Think they are only high explosives." 

2.47. "Boston talking. Enemy sent up one red rocket, one 
green rocket, and then three- green rockets from ."3-14."* The 
Adjutant repeat-,. 

"Be ready for some gas, gentlemen," says the Colonel. "I 
think that's Fritz's order for the stink. Orderly put down tin- 
gas covers on tiie doors and windows." 

2.49. "Boston talking. Z3 calls for barrage." 

The Colonel and Major turn to the wall map, pointing out Z3 
position. 



72 DEAR OLD "K" 

"Hum," says the Colonel, "counter attack, hey? Well, the 
barrage will take care of them; but get me Watson on the line." 

"Connect me with Nantucket," the Adjutant asks the opera- 
tor. "Hello, Watson ! Just a minute." Turning to the Colonel, 
"Here's Watson, sir." 

"Hello, Watson!" the Colonel says. "This is Yellow Jacket. 
Watch out for a counter attack against Z3. Place your men in 
readiness and be prepared to support Michel on your right. 
That's all. Get me Mr. Lake," he adds to the Adjutant. 

While the Adjutant makes the connection, the Colonel explains 
the quickly planned flanking movement on the map. "If they 
come over there," he says to the French Major, "not a damned 
one of them will ever get back alive." 

3.00. "Boston talking. X19 reports gas." 

3.04. "Boston talking." Pause. "X10 reports gas in Bois 
des ." 

3.06. "Boston talking. Hello ! Yes ! No, nothing coming 
in here to amount to anything. Just had gas warning, but none 
arrived yet." 

3.07. "Boston talking. Yes. All right." (Is turning to 
the Colonel.) "Operator just received the message from storm- 
ing party (so far so good)." 

"Not bad for thirty-seven minutes after the opening of the 
operation," remarks the Colonel. 

3.09. "Boston talking. Watson reports all quiet around Z3 
now." 

"Guess that barrage changed their minds," remarks the Colo- 
nel. 

With my gas mask at alert, I walked out for a breath of 
French aii. The guns were roaring in the rear, and from in front 
came the sound of shells arriving on the German positions. The 
first hints of dawn were in the sky. I returned in time to note 
the hour (3.18) and hear: 

"Boston talking. Reports enemy dropping lots of shells from 
B4 to B8." 

"Trying to get the boys coming back, hey?" remarks the 
Colonel. "A fat chance. They are not coming back that way." 

3.23. "Boston talking. Z3 reports that barrage is called 
for in their sector because the enemy has advanced within 200 




Reading the home papers 

Even the advertisements were late news items. 

Corporal James Mohan on ground ; Lieutenant Duane 
and Lieutenant Cummings reading Clinton Daily Items and 
Boston Posts nine weeks old, just in rear of front line. 




"K" mess shack at Bois-de-Ranzier (Rear of Hatton 
chatel). The crew in the picture are world's champion beef- 
stew makers (the onlj member missing is Cooper's Bat, 

which was always used to mix stews . 




'*&'■■- ' 



Miles of these communicating trenches had to be passed through before 
reaching the front line. 




Searching the skies at night for enemy planes. Sometimes as many as 
twenty of these lights were used at one time, and it was a wonderful sight. 




» TX»* k»&o»«» Into >-i wc NcAg AgoioiHCQU* 

French tanks going up to position to start attack 




A direct hit on a German tank. The shell hit directly in center of tank. 




American Inns following tanks at start of attack 




A Companj Kitchen back of the lines ( 1 Co up my Detail ) 



1 1 s t INFANTRY 73 

yards of his first positions. Evidently wanted to start some- 
thing, but the barrage nipped them and they fell back fast." 

3.25. "Boston talking. Two green and two red rockets sent 
up by the enemy from behind llichecourt." 

3.28. "Boston talking. All O.K. in Z2. Still waiting to 
hear from Michel." 

"I rather wish they had developed their counter attack," says 
the Colonel. "I have a reserve that would certainly have given 
them an awful wallop." 

3.30. "Boston talking. More gas in Bois des B ." 

3.37. "Boston talking. Blank white stars reported 
from ." 

"They must be on the way back by this time," says the Colo- 
nel, looking at his watch. 

3.38. "Enemy now shelling on north end of town, a little 
gas." 

3.40. "XI reports some enemy long-range retaliation on." 

"They had better come back the other way," says the Colonel. 

3.42. "Signal man with party reports everything O.K." 

"We don't know yet whether they have had any losses or got 
any prisoners," the Colonel remarks, "but the mechanism seems 
to have functioned just as well as it did in the last raid. We 
didn't get a prisoner that time, but I sorter feel the boys will 
bring back a couple with them tonight." 

3.49. "G9 reports some of raiding party have returned and 
passed that point." 

"Come back pretty quick, don't you think so, Major?" says 
the Colonel, with some pride. "Must have returned over the top." 

3.55. We hear fast footsteps on the stone stairs looking down 
to the dug-out entrance. 

Two men enter, carrying something between them. Sweat has 
streaked through the charcoal coating on their faces, leaving 
striped, zebra-like countenances. 

"Lieutenant Blank's compliments, sir," says the first man. 
"Here's one of their machine-guns." 

"Who got it?" inquires the Colonel. 

"Me and him, sir." 

"How did you get it?" 

"We just rolled 'em off of it and took it." 



74 DEAR OLD "K" 

"Rolled who off of it?" 

"Two Germans, sir." 

"What were they doing all that time?" 

"Why? sir, they weren't doing anything. They were dead." 

"Oh, very well, then," says the Colonel, "how did you happen 
to find that machine-gun?" 

"We knew where it was before we went over, sir," says the 
man simply. "We were assigned to get it and bring it back. We 
expected we'd have to fight for it, but I guess our barrage laid out 
the crew. Anyhow we rushed the position and found them dead." 

I went out with the machine-gun's captors and walked with 
them to the road. Daylight was pouring down into the ruined 
village street up which marched the returning raiders without a 
thought of order. They were a happy, gleeful party. As they 
approached, I saw the cause for some of the jocularity. It was a 
chubby little boyish figure, who sat perched upon the right 
shoulder of a tall, husky sergeant. 

But there was no smile on the face of the thus-transported 
object. His chubby countenance was one of easily understood 
concern. He was not a day over sixteen years old, and this was 
quite some experience for him. In fact, he was one of the German 
prisoners, and these happy youngsters from across the sea were 
bringing him almost with as much importance as though he had 
been a football hero. 

"Juggers, here's the Colonel's dug-out," one voice shouted. 
"Put him down to walk now." 

Little Frit/ was lowered to the ground. He caught step im- 
mediately with the big sergeant, and took up the latter's long 
stride with his short legs and feet encased in clumsy German 
boots. 

"For the luvva Mike, Tim," shouted an ambulance man, "do 
you call that a prisoner?" 

"Sure. He does look like a half-portion," replied Sergeant 
Tim, with a smile. "We get two hundred francs for a whole one. 
I don't know what we cash in for this one." 

"Sergeant, I'm not kidding," came one serious voice. "Why 
turn him in as a prisoner? I like the kid's looks. Why can't we 
keep him for company mascot?" 



101st INFANTRY 75 

The discussion ended when the sergeant and his small charge 
disappeared in the Colonel's quarters for inevitable questioning. 
Several wounded men were lying on the stretchers in front of the 
First Aid dug-out, waiting for returning ambulances and passing 
the time meanwhile smoking cigarettes and explaining how close 
each of them was to the shell when it exploded and "got 'em." 

But little of their talk was devoted to themselves. They wire 
all praise for the little chaplain from New England, who, without 
arms, went over the top with "his boys" and came back with them. 
It was their opinion that their Regiment had some sky pilot. And 
it's mine, too. 

During the artillery preparation for this raid considerable 
gas was used by our artillery, it being laid in the Town of Leahy- 
ville. Unfortunately, there was a change in the wind direction a 
short while before the hour set for starting, and the wind tarried 
the gas through a small ravine back into our own lines and back 
onto our raiding party. There being so much smoke and fumes 
from the bursting shells that the odor of gas was not detected. 
The result of this was that at 11.30 on the morning of May 31st, 
the first of the boys showed signs of gas poisoning. Within the 
next twenty-four hours 368 out of the 400 who were on the 
raid were either evacuated to the hospital or treated in their 
quarters for phosgene gas poisoning. Several died as the result 
of this experience. Among them was Robert A. Murray, of "K." 
Murray was laid at rest in Menil-le-Toul, and his grave was 
looked after by Jim Bricket, who was stationed in this town with 
Division Headquarters. Two of the boys who were killed during 
the raid were killed by our own grenades. One of the boys, a 
grenadier, was carrying a bomb bag over his shoulder with about 
twenty-five grenades in it. A cotter pin dropped out of one 
grenade and this released the firing cap, thus setting the bomb 
off; this one set most of the grenades in the bag off, and the 
fellow carrying them had his whole side blown off. One of the 
boys rushed to his assistance, but was too late to help any but 
just in time to be hit with fragments of delayed grenades, and 
later died on the field. 

June 2d, K Company once more moved up to the reserve posi- 
tion in and near the Town of Bernecourt. 

Of all the weapons used b}^ the Americans, I am of the im- 



76 DEAR OLD "K" 

pression that the Germans were most fearful of our trench knife, 
this being a very dangerous weapon to those who were to come 
in personal contact with it. The trench knife was made with a 
wooden handle grooved to brace the finger hold. This, with a 
steel guard protected by pointed projection and the blade, was 
about ten inches long, triangular shaped, with all three points as 
sharp as a razor blade and the end ranging down to a needle point. 
In using the trench knife, after making a thrust at the enemy, 
should the blade come in contact with part of his equipment, mak- 
ing it impossible to perform its regular duty on the enemy, the 
man then made an upward thrust, using the knuckle guard some- 
what in the same fashion as the old brass knuckles used by the 
thugs of previous days. One good story connected with the 
trench knife came to light when several boys were talking over 
the results of a certain raid executed by our battalion. A mem- 
ber of G Company was listening very intently to one of the boys 
telling of his buddy, who thrust the trench knife into one of the 
enemv as lie rounded a turn in the trench. The lad lost his grip 
on the trench knife and the victim continued to run, but only for 
a short distance, when he staggered and fell against the side of 
the trench, dead. In explaining how this man ran with the 
trench knife thrust in his side, the G Company boy immediately 
exclaimed, "What, did the blinkety-blankety-this-and-that-Boche 
get away with that perfectly good trench knife !" 

The usual routine work was done each day, the Company fur- 
nishing trench digging and barbed-wire details. The Germans 
had a very bad habit of continually shelling this town. The 
Company Headquarters was located in a small, corrugated-iron 
covered shack about 25 feet long and 10 feet wide. During one 
of these shillings a 77 landed directly in front of Company Head- 
quarters, several pieces penetrating the corrugated-iron door. 
One piece, about three inches in diameter, after passing through 
the door, hit Hughie Hanna in the stomach, but, very fortunately, 
the heavy army web belt stopped the blow. This belt was cut 
almost in two, but Hughie was not injured, only jarred a bit. 
After this piece of shell hit Hughie, it bounced from his very 
elastic stomach across the room and into the lap of Company 
Clerk Charles Bent. Bent was only slightly injured. This is just 
one of the many close calls which the boys had. 



101st INFANTRY 77 

On the next couple of days more shells landed close by, in- 
flicting wounds on the Company soup gun (rolling kitchen), but 
"fortunately" the beef-stew range finder was not injured. At 
the close of festivities in November this soup-gun possessed seven 
wound stripes. 

On the night of June 7th, one of the billets occupied by M 
Company in Bernecourt was hit with a shell and caved in. 
One of the large beams which held up the ceiling fell and crushed 
several of the boys, killing one fellow. The rescuing of the in- 
jured from this house was made very difficult by the continued 
shelling, but Major Bayne-Jones was on the job and did wonder- 
ful work. Too much praise cannot be given to this medical man, 
who was always out in the thick of every engagement, and no place 
was too dangerous for him to go to assist boys. One time he 
was offered a promotion from the .Medical Corps into the In- 
fantry. This was offered as a reward for his brave acts. He was 
Later decorated with the Croix de Guerre. He had previously 
been awarded the British Distinguished Service Cross. 

June 11th, Divisional Citations were distributed to a number 
of men who diel good work in the recent raid. 

On June 12th, a large review and decoration ceremony was 
held at Roymeaux. Among those decorated by the French Gen- 
eral on this occasion was Sergeant Edward W. Brady, Corporal 
James F. (Dolly) O'Toole, and Private Adelbert Bresnahan. 
These boys were decorated with the Croix de Guerre. One little 
incident which I have overlooked in reference to the recent raid 
executed was that which happened to Dolly. On reaching a dug- 
out, during a raid, it would be suicidal to stand in front of the 
entrance requesting those inside to come out, so one man stands 
on each side of the entrance, and, when possible, one man stand-, 
over the entrance and calls for the enemy to surrender. The 
incident to which I refer is one where Dolly was designated to 
stand over the door of the dug-out, which was of concrete and 
built into the side of the trench. In the excitement, one of the 
boys, with twenty pounds of TNT, heaved the same into the dug- 
out before Dolly could remove himself from aloft. The result 
was that Dolly rode twenty feet into the air and landed into the 
lap of the fellow who threw the torpedo. He had one rib crushed 



78 DEAR OLD "K" 

and was badly shaken up, which gave him three weeks in the hos- 
pital. 

Later on, medical officers who had recently lauded from the 
United Stales were assigned to the hospital of which Dolly was 
the star patient. In his anxiety to know all about the front and 
whit takes place during raids, etc., one of the new officers asked 
Dolly how far into the German lines he had none, Dolly telling 
him slightly beyond the third line. He wanted to know how it 
was possible to get in so far, and Dolly's reply was, "They issued 
bicycles for each raid." 

One of the most prominent men at the ceremony of decora- 
tion was Chaplain Lyman Rollins, of our Regiment. Chaplain 
Rollins was a member of the raiding party, and for his conspicu- 
ous bravery and devotion was now receiving his reward — a Croix 
de Guerre. There never was any activity that the 101st Infantry 
took part in that this Chaplain was not in the thick of it, and he 
was one of the most prominent chaplains in the A. E. F. When 
it came to handing out a sermon in real honest-to-ffoodness "he"- 
Language, Chaplain Rollins had no superior. 

On June 12th, warning was sent to all units to be prepared 
for a proposed German Projector Gas Attack, but the attack 

did not take place. 

Many stories drifted to America, telling of the terrible moral 
conditions in France ami of how our boys were exposed to the 
temptations, and also their terrible flirtation with the French 
drinks. Although I am not qualified to .judge the morals of men, 
I can assure the mothers, relatives, and friends of practically all 
of the boys with whom I came in contact that their morals were 
very splendid, and I daresay in many cases the boys kept more 
on the straight and narrow path than if they were hack in 
America. The chaplains and officers dwelt considerably upon 
maintaining the moral standard of the army, and our boys lived 
up to this standard in excellent shape. 

June 13th, Capt. Thomas F. Foley. G Company, of Worcester, 
a man always Loved by the men of Company EC, was assigned to 
command the Third Battalion, of which K Company was part. 

On dune 16th the enemy made a strong attack on the Town 
of Xivray, which was now five kilometers on our left. The enemy 



101st INFANTRY 79 

was repulsed with heavy loss. During this attack they con- 
tinually shelled our position, and also the towns iu the rear, for 
a distance often kilometers. As the shells soared over our heads, 
sailing for the rear, the boys all exclaimed that at last the enemy 
had used good judgment in handing the men in the rear a little 
touch of war, for many of those there hardly knew there was a 
war going on. 

A wooden shower hath, which had been erected in the Town of 
Bernecourt, was being used on this afternoon. When the shelling 
started, a whole platoon of men were under the showers. After 
four or five shells landed close to the frail bath house, it was good 
sport to see the boys rushing out and through the streets with 
their clothes under their arms, headed straight for their shell- 
proofs. A windy day on Boylston and Tremont Streets, Boston, 
never- had a thing on Bernecourt that afternoon. 

On June 19th, at 2 a. m., our engineers, who had been pre- 
paring for the last ten days, sent over a Projector Gas Attack on 
the enemy of 1,000 shells, each containing thirty pounds of 
Chloropicrin Gas. It was a beautiful sight to watch the flash of 
the powder as these shells were sent over. It was later learned 
th.it terrible damage was done by the gas, for at the time of the 
sending over of the projectors, an entire battalion was in process 
of relief. This gas covered an area in depth of five kilometers. 
During the retaliation which the German artillery put over, one 
shell landed directly outside the window of Regimental Head- 
quarters, and on its bursting a gnat many fragments were thrown 
into Colonel Logan's office. One large piece landed directly over 
the head of a chair in which Colonel Logan had been sitting less 
than two minutes before. Another piece hit ('apt. Harry Com- 
erais on the hand, he losing three fingers. Another piece hit Lieut. 
Bill Blake back of the ear, inflicting a four-inch wound. To prove 
that there is humor, even in the most serious event, Lieut. Pat 
Healey, on seeing Bill Blake's wound, t\rc](\t<{ that the thing 
necessary was a tourniquet, so he immediately proceeded to put a 
tourniquet on Blake's neck; hut Pill protested. 

Another incident which occurred during the shelling concerned 
Hughie Hanna, who had been acting as Battalion Runner. lie 
was standing outside the battalion office. I asked him to deliver 



80 I) E A R OLD " K 

a message, and in less than ten seconds later, two large shells 
landed in almosl the exact spot on which he had been standing. 

At 22.45 o'clock, On June 26th, our entire battalion moved 

from the present area, marching through the Town of Ancexillc, 

and entrained on a nice little scenic railroad which carried us 

through fields and woods and reached the City of Toul at 6.80 

o'clock, June 27th. On detraining at Toul, the hike was started, 
and after covering a distance of fifteen kilometers, the Town of 
Blenod le-Toul was reached. We remained in this town for the 

next three days. That was quite a pretty town, and very clean. 

It was a change from what ue had been finding in most towns and 

villages where we had Stopped. The people were very kind to us. 
We being the first American troops in this section. 

At 7.45 v. m., dune 80th, we lefl Blenod le-Toul and marched 

to the City of Toul, entraining at 11- o'clock for an unknown 

destination. Rumor had it that our Regiment would parade in 

Taris on duly llh. Other rumors had it that we would he billeted 

iieai- Paris. 

Early the morning of duly 1st, when we reached a small sub- 
urb nine miles from Paris, we thought that rumors for once were 
correct ; hut our hopes were soon shattered, for our stay here was 
only long enough to switch engines and start out on a new line. 

We then reached the Town of Trilpot, a suburb of the City of 

MeauX. We detrained here and marched to the Village of Nan 
teuil-les-Meaux. While detraining a very pretty girl dressed in 

the very litest fashion came over and watched the hoys unload 

the baggage and remove the wagons from the cars. Many of the 
hoys, not having seen such a pretty maiden for some time, pro- 
ceeded to "make eves," passed witty sayings, and so forth, hut 
without any great success. The young lady seemed interested in 
all that was said and done, hut would not take up a conversation 

with any one. Ahout an hour after leaving our presence, several 

of our hoys who went to the cafe in the Trilpot Depot were greal lv 

surprised to see this same maiden walking between two French 
gendarmes (policemen). They watched proceedings, and fifteen 
minutes after the gendarmes brought her into the French Town 

Major's office, to make her appearance before the Prefect of the 

Police, tin- same two gendarmes came out and this pretty girl was 

still with them. Hut now she Carried her hat and her very heauti- 




Iy|M 1 I • i HOWAHD J. ( ,01 " K. " 

who on .Jul;, >.',. ]!*iH. received ■■< compound fracture of the 
^kull while assisting in rescuing men who were wounded 
by enemj iir<-. He has recovered from Ins injury. 



t 




Chateatt-Thiek It V Hit ldge 
Blown up by Germans to prevent the Americans crossing 




Vaux, the town in which "K" was located at the time of the July l">th 
attack and from which point the apex of the bi# Marne offensive started. 

It was on the West Edge of this town that the first " K " boys fell in action, 
July U to 19. 



101st INFANTRY 81 

ful blond wig in "his" hand. It turned out that this was a German 
spy. Later we learned that he was shot that same day, this 
privilege being given to an American soldier. 

During our stay at Nanteuil, with Regimental Headquarters 
in the City of Meaux, an air raid took place. Seven aerial bombs 
were dropped in both of the above towns with the loss of nine 
lives, all children. 

On the warning of these air raids, all the inhabitants rush for 
the bomb-proof cellars, which were built as protection against 
such raids. During the above raid the inhabitants took to these 
bomb-proofs. The following morning the air raid was the chief 
topic of conversation, and it was then learned that at least half 
of our boys had slept through the entire raid. 

July 3d, feeling that K Company should be represented in the 
City of Paris for the 4th of July celebration, Lieutenant Cum- 
mings and I, after securing permission, designated ourselves as 
a committee of two to go to Paris and represent our home town. 
How w r ell this was done I will leave to your imagination. We 
stayed out the night before and carried on a real celebration, just 
as our friends would like to have had us do. We remained in 
Paris until 6 o'clock, July 5th, at this time returning to the City 
of Meaux, where we entrucked with the Regiment. After a six- 
hour ride, we detrucked and marched to a woods located back of 

the Town of . On reaching these woods the boys immediately 

threw off their packs and falling on the ground, thoroughly fa- 
tigued, fell asleep. This sleep was short, for within two hours 
it was necessary to wake the men and start them digging a new 
line of trenches. This was the support position, and was the 
farthest advance of the Boche in his June drive. Shortly after 
our arrival in this position, we saw our first refugees leaving their 
homes, fleeing to the southern part of France — old men and 
women pulling carts loaded with what furniture could be placed 
thereon. Behind these carts and wagons were the animals. It 
certainly was a sad sight and drove the war home to us, for it 
reminded us of our dear folks at home, and we thought what 
might have been the feeling if it were our folks instead of these 
poor French people. 

On the night of July 7th, a reconnoitering party from each 
company and battalion left by camions for the front line. We 
arrived at our destination at 4 o'clock, the morning of the 8th. 



82 DEAR OLD "K" 

We reconnoitered the Villages of Vaux and Monneaux, the 9th 
Infantry, 2d Division, being at the present time located at these 
positions. It was the Second Division which stopped the Germans 
on their drive towards Paris in the middle of June. They were 
now to receive a well-deserved rest. 

The Towns of Monneaux and Vaux were situated directly on 
the Paris Boulevard. On the night of July 8th, the entire Regi- 
ment moved into this present position, one platoon of K Company 
going into the Town of Vaux and three platoons acting in sup- 
port. The advance points were held by the First Platoon of K 
Company and three platoons of M Company, the latter being 
under the command of Lieut. William Fitzgerald, of Worcester, 
a nephew of Rev. Edward J. Fitzgerald, of Clinton. Lieut. Ed. 
Price was commanding "K's" platoon. To reach the Town of 
Vaux it was necessary to pass through the Town of Monneaux, 
a distance of about 500 meters. This was an open stretch, and 
the enemy was situated on Hill 204, which was directly over the 
Town of Vaux, the latter resting in the hollow. From the hill 
to the right of Monneaux and Hill 204, snipers worked continu- 
ally, covering the road between the two towns. Hence, great pre- 
caution was necessary in passing over it. 

From our entrance into the lines at this point until the morn- 
ing of July 15th, the usual front line activities took place. Pa- 
trols were sent out. Small skirmishes with the enemy were frequent. 

The most disagreeable thing of all was the continual enemy 
artillery fire. They used considerable gas, for the reason that the 
present positions held by our Division were situated in hollows. 
Hence, a heavy concentration of gas could be placed down. We 
received a 24-hour diet of these shells, with the exception of a few 
moments that the enemy artillery-men stopped for refreshments. 
And in speaking about gas, many stories have been told of the 
dreadful effects of gas in its use during the war ; but to one who 
has come in contact with it, and who has actually seen its terrible 
results, words are inadequate to describe it. 

I listened with great interest to the story of the first gas 
attack of the war. It was launched against the Canadian soldiers 
at Ypres early in April, 1915. The soldier who related the story 
to me was in the Scotch Unit on the right of the Canadians at the 
time of the attack. With no means of protection, those poor men 



101st INFANTRY 83 

just rushed at the Boche and ignored the fumes which were being 
shot at them, and the effect was hideous. In a few moments men 
were rolling on the ground, choking to death ; others had their 
eyes almost burned out. In all, the Canadians suffered about 
15,000 casualties from this gas. After this attack and subsequent 
ones, new devices were being perfected to protect the men, and 
when the United States entered the war, we were fortunate to 
have a gas mask that was near perfection itself. 

There were many forms of the poisonous gases, and many 
schemes used in delivering the gas. There was the projector 
shell (each shell containing about thirty pounds of gas), the 
regular artillery shell, hand grenades, and cloud gas. The cloud 
gas was contained in cylinders, usually placed in grooves in the 
front line trenches, and with tubes attached leading over the top 
of the trench. At a given signal the cylinders are opened and 
with a loud hiss the gas is sent on its way into the enemy lines. 
This gas rolls along at a height of about six feet and in the form 
of a cloud. The effects of the cloud gas are terrible, for it 
gives the men in the front line only a few seconds to put on their 
masks. On one occasion the effects of a cloud gas attack 
were felt in the enemy lines to a depth of twenty-five kilometers. 
The projector gas penetrates nearly five kilometers. The depth 
of effect depends entirely on the wind velocity. 

The regular gas shell can be identified from the other ex- 
plosive shells very easily by the burst. The gas shell lands and 
bursts with a sort of splashing thud instead of the usual sharp 
report, as with the others. 

The enemy used many tricks in sending over their gas. On 
many occasions they sent over the gas known commonly as "Tear 
Gas." This would affect the eyes and make it difficult to see for a 
long period. They would follow that with the commonly called 
"Sneezing Gas," which would keep one sneezing for a spell, and 
after putting on the mask it was a difficult feat to keep it on, 
owing to the sneezing. After the above slightly harmful gases, 
and while the men had their masks off for relief, they would follow 
with their mustard, chlorine, or phosgene gas, and either of these 
would cause the desired effect if all were not alert. 

It was difficult to detect gas at times if one was not familiar 
with it. One gas had an odor similar to new-mown hay. Another 
was like sweet chocolate and many other appealing odors. 



84 DEAR OLD "K" 

On the arrival of gas shells in the sector, an alarm was given 
by the sounding of klaxon horns. This alarm would be taken up 
by the groups on the right and left and rear. In the event of a 
cloud gas attack the alarm was given by the sounding of a 
strombos-horn. This horn could be heard for a considerable dis- 
tance, and allowed those in the rear to get their masks on. If at 
night, a red rocket was sent up from the front lines as a warning. 

The following report gives an idea of one of the methods used 
for shelling with gas : 

PREFERABLE HOURS FOR FIRING YPERITE SHELL 

Translation of a German Document : From French Xth 
Army Bulletin, August 23, 1918 

The following document, captured on the army front, shows 
that the Germans choose preferably the late hours of the night 
to fire their yperite shells, in order to take advantage of the 
evaporation of the morning hours to increase the chances of 
poisoning. 

To the 222d Division. August 11, 1918. 

The IXth Army telegraphs: 

Pairing with yellow-eross shell being in order for your unit tonight, 
I quote you the following passage extracted from the Study of the 
Chief of the General Staff, II, 93,-194, of August 7, 1918: 

"Bombardment with yellow-cross shell will be executed 
preferably between 1 and 4 a. m. At first the bombardment 
compels the enemy to wear his masks. A few hours later, 
when the presence of the gas is no longer revealed by the 
odor, the enemy will probably take off his mask, but will be 
overcome later, when the sun rises, by the action of the 
evaporation. For this reason the principal lines of resist- 
ance of the enemy — especially groups of dug-outs, machine- 
gun replacements, and observation posts which have been 
located, as well as battery positions — should be bombarded 
with yellow-cross shell whenever the weather permits. 

"Every attempt of the enemy to nullify the effects of our 
night gas bombardment in the morning should be neutralized 
by volleys of rifle, machine-gun, minnenwerfer, and artillery 
fire." 

To pronounce the technical names of the various gasses, one 
would suffer almost as much as he would from the effects of 



101st INFANTRY 85 

the gasses themselves. Just a few of the chemicals used by 
the Germans : 

Allijl Jsothiocyanate 
(Allyl Mustard Oil) 
It is a lachrymatory and respiratory irritant, affecting especially 
the eyes, nose, and throat. 

The vapor is 3.3 times as heavy as air. 

Benzyl Bromide 
It is chiefly a lachrymator, but also irritates the respiratory organs. 
The vapor is 5.7 times as heavy as air. 

Bromoacetone 
This mixture is a lachrymatory and respiratory irritant, even in 
low concentrations. 

The vapor is 4.5 times as heavy as air. 

Brominated Methylethyl Ketone 
(Brome Ketone) 
It causes lachrymation, and is to some extent a respiratory irri- 
tant, in that it causes a burning sensation in the throat, but no feeling 
of constriction in the chest. 

The mixed vapors are about 6 times as heavy as air. 

Bromine 

The effects of bromine are much the same as those of chlorine. 
Bromine is, in addition, very irritating to the eyes, even in low con- 
centrations. 

Bromine is soluble in water, and is readily absorbed by alkalis, 
alkaline sulphites, and thiosulphates. 

Bromine vapor is 5^ times as heavy as air. 

Chloracetone 
It is a lachrymator and asphyxiant similar to bromoacetone, but 
not so powerful. 

The vapor is 3 times as heavy as air. 

Chlorine 

Chlorine is chiefly a respiratory irritant, although in high con- 
centrations it affects the eyes also. It causes spasm of the glottis, 
burning of the nose and throat, and, at a later stage, bronchitis and 
oedema of the lungs. 

A man exposed to a low concentration for a time is likely to 
develop bronchitis. In a concentration of 1-10,000, the struggle for 
breath becomes acute and it is probable that a man would be incapac- 
itated within five minutes. 

The gas is 2% times as heavy as air. 



86 DEAR OLD "K" 

Chlaromethylchloroformate 
(Palite) 
It is chiefly a respiratory irritant, resembling phosgene in its 
effects. It gives off acid fumes, acts slowly on metals, and decomposes 
in contact with water. 

The vapor is about 4.3 times as heavy as air. 

Chloropicrin 
(Nitrochloroform) 
Chloropicrin is a lachrymator and a respiratory irritant. Repeated 
exposure causes increased susceptibility. It induces cough, nausea, 
and vomiting, and in high concentration may cause unconsciousness. 
Secondary effects are bronchitis, asthma, shortness of breath, weak 
irregular heart, and gastritis. It may cause acute nephritis. 
The vapor is 5.7 times as heavy as air. 

Chlorosulphonic Acid 
The liquid produces dense white fumes in the air, is irritant and 
corrosive, and produces severe burns when it comes in contact with 
the skin. It is decomposed by water with explosive violence. 

Dichlorodiethyl Sulphide 
(Mustard Gas) 

This oily liquid is now very largely used in German shell. It has 
but a faint smell, resembling that of garlic or mustard. 

This gas is characterized by the absence of any immediate effects 
(except in some cases irritation of the nose) and by its serious after- 
effects. In the milder cases these after-effects may be limited to 
nausea, vomiting, inflammation of the eyes, and slight bronchitis, 
while the skin on various parts of the body may become reddened or 
blistered. In the most severe cases the larynx, bronchial tubes, and 
lungs may be seriously inflamed, and there will be widely spread 
burns on the skin. A prolonged exposure to a low concentration 
causes the same general effects as a short exposure to a higher con- 
centration. 

There is usually a considerable period of delay before these after- 
effects manifest themselves. In the majority of cases the inflamma- 
tion of the eyes does not become apparent until an hour or two after 
exposure to the gas, and it is sometimes postponed as long as twelve 
hours or more. No cases of permanent injury to the eyes have been 
reported. The inflammation of the eyes and of the skin clears up 
fairly rapidly under treatment. 

The vapor is 5.3 times as heavy as air. 

Diphenylchloroarsine 

This is a yellow solid of slight odor, which is used either alone or 
mixed with "Diphosgene" and chloropicrin in high explosive shell. 

In small amounts diphenylchloroarsine causes intense sneezing. 
Large amounts cause jaainful irritation of the respiratory tract. 



101st INFANTRY 87 

Hydrocya n ic Acid 

(Prussic Acid) 
This substance is a "paralyzant." Moderate quantities cause 
vertigo, headache, palpitation of the heart, nausea, vomiting, and dif- 
ficult gasping respiration. The next stage is spasm, then collapse. 
With inhalation of large quantities, death ensues practically immedi- 
ately. 

Methyl Cklorosulphon ate 
It is a lachrymator and asphyxiant. 
The vapor is about 4.3 times as heavy as air. 

Phenylcarbylamine Chloride 
It is a lachrymator and somewhat of an asphyxiant. 
The vapor is about 6 times as heavy as air. 

Phosgene 

(Carbonyl Chloride) 

Phosgene is a colorless gas, which is used, mixed with chlorine, 
for cloud gas attacks. It is used as pure liquid phosgene in trench 
mortar and other shell. It is mixed with trichlormethylchloroformate 
and with diphenylchloroarsine. 

Phosgene has a peculiar odor, described as that of "musty hay." 
It acts chiefly as a respiratory irritant, hut is also lachrymatory. The 
effect differs from that of chlorine in that, in small concentrations, 
its influence is limited mainly to the terminal air cells of the lungs. 
This effect leads to oedema of the lungs, accompanied by interference 
with the passage of oxygen inwards, and consequent cyanosis — a 
grave condition — and often death. It usually takes some hours for 
the serious symptoms to develop, and in the interval there may he no 
sign of danger. The first symptoms are dizziness and cyanosis on 
exertion. Phosgene incapacitates a man more slowly than the same 
concentration of chlorine, but is more poisonous in its after-effects. 

Phosgene may be recognized by its odor. Tobacco smoked sub- 
sequently by a man lightly gassed by phosgene has an unpleasant and 
objectionable taste. This is the well-known phosgene tobacco re- 
action. 

Sulphur Trioxide 

This is a white solid, which is used, mixed with chlorosulphuric 
acid, in hand grenades, and also in shell containing high explosive. It 
evolves dense white fumes. 

Sulphur trioxide is irritating to the nose, throat, and lungs, but 
its effect on the eyes is negligible. 

TrichloromethulcJiloro fo r m a t e 
(Diphosgene) 
"Diphosgene" is an oily liquid, with a disagreeable, suffocating 
odor. It is largely used in shells, replacing "Palite." It is mixed. 
as a rule, with chloropicrin and phosgene. 



88 DEAR OLD "K" 

The physiological effects of "Diphosgene" are almost identical 
with those of phosgene. It is less lachrymatory than "Palite," but 
more suffocating and more toxic. 

The vapor is 6.6 times as heavy as air. 

Trioxy methylene 

Trioxymethylene is an imperfectly crystalline solid, which has 
been found to a small extent in specimens of "mustard gas" from shell. 
The vapor is very irritating to the throat and lungs. 

The total quantity of poison gas used by the Germans on 
the Western Front was very large, and probably amounted to 
several thousand tons every month. On one stretch of front 
alone it was estimated that a million gas shells of various kinds 
were used within thirty days. 

One of the saddest sights of the war was to see the men 
who wire badly gassed being taken to the dressing stations, 
groaning and squirming in agony, with their bodies burned 
raw by mustard gas, their eyes burning, clutching their throats 
as they were gasping for breath. It was indeed a sad picture 
w lien one thought of the contrast of these same boys only a few 
days before as they marched up in the direction of the lines, 
singing, whistling, and with a gay spirit as they swung along 
the highways. They now looked so different as hundreds of 
them came back to the field dressing stations, some walking, 
dragging their tortured bodies along on exhausted legs, others 
being carried on stretchers, and a few of the blind being guided 
by less seriously wounded buddies. The scenes of gas cases in the 
hospitals were also pitiful ones. Ward after ward was filled 
with these gassed forms, some with oxygen tubes in their mouths 
in order to maintain what little life there was left, others with 
arms strapped and bleeding from incisions made just above the 
elbows in order to free all the poisonous black blood in the 
system. The after-effects of gas are to be feared much more 
than the effects of most wounds. 

During our early training in gas warfare, defensive meas- 
ures for personal protection were taught. Great stress was 
laid upon the fact that it was absolutely necessary for personal 
safety to shave daily and keep the face clear, so that the mask 
would fit snug and not allow gas fumes to penetrate through 
the edges. With these thoughts in mind, every man shaved 



1 1 s i INF A N'TRY 89 

daily, and all decided that no chances would he taken. The 
letter of the law was carried out. Shortly after our arrival in 
the lines, several of the older French outfits were met, and here 
we found many of the Frenchmen, who had been in the war for 
four years, waring long beard-. Our boys stared in ain 
ment and then decided that their first guess was right — that 
when the call comes you just must answer it, and shaving daily 
was no great barrier. 

The Town of Yeaux possessed a railroad which connected 
Chateau-Thierry and Paris, the railroad station being on a 
high banking over the town. Belleau Woods, in which the 
Marines made their famous fighting name, was situated one 
kilometer on the left. The railroad bridge a short distance 
from the station crossed the Paris road, and this point was con- 
sidered of great value. 

Our boys were ever alert to play with the Boche at his own 
game, and as time went on and experience was gained, they 
invented several vtry useful little devices. One of the stunts 
was the -ending out of patrols and laving of traps in No Man's 
Land. Grenades were set out with strings or wire attached. 
These strings were then tier! to long sticks of wood or other 
debris, which the enemy were liable to step on or trip over, and 
cause the grenades to explode. At one time a large number of 
German potato mashers (grenades with long wooden handles 
similar to a potato masher) were placed about seventy-five meter-, 
in front of our barbed-wire. The strings were attached to t 
mashers, which were on a line covering our whole Company front, 
^<r<: carried forward to our own line-, and placed in the trench. 
If an enemy patrol was out in front, they were allowed to advance 
until they arrived between our wires and the grenade-traps, and 
then the string was pulled, setting off the trap. At the same 
time all the men in our trench opened up and the patrol was in 
a bad mess. Only those who had charmed lives escaped whole. 

July 12th, we heard of a message which was intercepted about 
a week ago from a Boche colonel to his headquarters in the rear. 
He said, "Those damn Americans are harder fighters than the 
British or Canadians ever were.*' That's the lesson the boys 
;ng. 

On the night of July 14th there seemed to be exceptionally 



90 DEAR OLD "K" 

heavy shelling laid on our positions. At 3.30 o'clock on the 
morning of the 15th a heavy barrage was started by the enemy. 
It continued until 4.30, and at this moment was followed by 
an attack. On the start of the attack our boys sent up the 
rocket signal requesting a barrage. Less than one minute later, 
our artillery was playing on the German lines. The attacking 
forces drove in in large numbers, coming from various directions, 
centering their attack toward the railroad station. 

Fierce fighting took place with one platoon of M Company 
on the left edge of the town, it becoming necessary for this 
platoon to withdraw about 100 meters, leaving the left flank 
of K Company's platoon open. A large detachment of the 
enemy swung in on the left of "K." The right groups of the 
town held fast, making it impossible for the enemy to take the 
railroad bridge. After one hour of stiff fighting, a great deal 
of which was hand-to-hand and with odds of ten to one, the 
enemy succeeded in gaining a position in the railroad station. 
No sooner had they gained the station, than the platoon from 
"K" and one platoon from M Company reorganized and made 
a combined attack. M Company men cleared the banking to 
the left above the station and drove the Germans back. One 
section in "K's" platoon took a position on the right of the 
station and opened fire on the depot, making it impossible for 
any one to pass between the station and the banking without 
becoming a casualty. At the same time, members of "K" crawled 
up the side of the banking in front of the station and opened a 
barrage with grenades. Some put grenades through the windows 
and others were thrown far up, so that they would pass down 
through the broken roof and into the rooms of the station, and 
thus drove out or killed every German located in the station. 

One member of the German party seemed to be immune to 
all rifle and grenade fire. There seemed to be this one man 
running at regular intervals between the banking and the en- 
trance of the depot, a distance of ten meters. Every time this 
man or number of men passed, a heavy concentration of rifle 
and automatic fire greeted him. Although apparently hit many 
times, he never seemed to be affected or become a casualty. After 
daybreak, on the driving out of the Germans and the reoccupying 
of the position by our boys, it was found that it was a large 



101st INFANTRY 91 

stuffed dummy that was used to draw fire, and on examination, 
said dummy was completely riddled with bullets. 

After driving back what few men were located near the 
depot, our lines were once more reoccupied, and a distance of 
fifty meters of the German lines taken, we having our outposts 
there. Our troops now took possession of the group of houses on 
the left edge of Yaux. These houses had been occupied by Boche 
during the time the 9th Infantry were in the town. 

The group which executed the attack on the depot and did 
such splendid work was under the direct command of Lieutenant 
Price and Sergeant Martin H. O'Malley, with them being Sergeant 
Christopher Sullivan, John Maroney, David (Duke) Templeton, 
Reginald Bates, Michael J. Tierney, Douglas Ross, Reginald Beal, 
Francis Krause, Ernest Bryant, Arthur Irwin, Lester Curtis, 
James Kirby, Edwin Armstrong, Alfred Hall, James Creswell. 
This group stook the bulk of the fighting for some minutes, and 
on their retaking of the depot, it was found that about sixty 
dead Germans were in and near the depot. 

This group also assisted at the defense of the railroad bridge 
crossing the Paris Road. Of course, this entire battle was not 
fought alone by "K" and "M" Companies. Much splendid work 
was done by L Company, of Xatick, who were situated on the 
left of "K," and I Company, of Boston, on the left of L Company. 

During the attack, Edwin Armstrong, Lawrence Litchfield, 
William Burgwinkle, Mike Suzinski and Michael J. Tierney 
were badly wounded. John J. McKenzie and Paul Mansfield, 
both of whom were acting as stretcher-bearers, were taken pris- 
oners. These two men were in the act of dressing wounds of 
their comrades when they were taken. 

The heav}' shelling which preceded the attack was responsible 
for the death of George Mealey, Everett Minigan, and Charles 
S. Myers. Of those wounded, Tierney, Litchfield, and Armstrong 
were the most serious, Armstrong having got in the direct line of 
the enemy machine-gun and Tierney being hit on the side of the 
head by a German grenade. While rounding up the wounded, 
several boys came across Tierney lying in a shell hole. After 
examination they thought him dead, and threw a blanket over him. 
A short while later, more men passing by the same shell hole lifted 
the blanket to look at Tierney, and discovered a slight movement. 



92 DEAR OLD "K" 

They then took off one of their woolen putties and wound it about 
his head. Very little hope was entertained for his recovery, for 
later reports received from the hospital said that he would be 
disabled for life, even though he should survive. Armstrong died 
at a hospital in Le Ferte the following day and in his death "K" 
lost one of its old standbys. Ed. Armstrong was a happy, con- 
genial buddy and a corking good soldier. Litchfield, although 
badly shot up, recovered and returned to the company. 

As soon as he was hit, George Mealey became excited and 
started to run through the wheatfields toward the First Aid Dress- 
ing Station in Bourboulin. On reaching the dressing station, 
it was found that one piece of shell had gone through his back 
and punctured his lung. The exertion of running was such a 
strain, and he had lost so much blood, that his chances of re- 
covery were very poor, and he died the following day. 

Everett Minigan was hit at almost the same instant as 
Mealey. A piece of shell fragment pierced his back just below 
the left shoulder blade. As soon as he was hit he turned to his 
pals and said, "Boys, give me a drink of water, for I guess 
that I'm all in." The boys did everything within their power 
to assist him, but in a very few minutes, with a bright smile 
on his face, he bade the boys "Good-by" and passed away. 

The other victim of this shelling was Charles S. Myers. As 
he was preparing to go over the top a shell landed within a few 
feet of him, and he was killed instantly. 

All these boys were buried by the lads of "K." There are 
many duties a soldier is called upon to perform, but the one 
that is hardest of all is the burying of his pals who have fallen 
in battle. Not only do happy moments of companionship flash 
over one's mind, but the thoughts of those dear ones at home 
who probably at that very moment are awaiting a letter or 
praying for the safety of the lad who has given his all for his 
God and Country and is now lying in a blanket or a plain wooden 
box about to be lowered into the ground of a strange land, 
thousands of miles from home and loved ones. 

There is no Taps sounded and no ceremony; the only volley 
fired over his grave is by the Germans as their machine-gun 
bullets whiz overhead. The plain pine box made by the Com- 
pany mechanics is lowered into the roughly dug hole. With 



101st INFANTRY 93 

helmets in hand, the boys say a prayer — and if ever prayers in 
this world come from the heart, they are these — and then the 
box is covered. Thus another plot of French soil is made sacred 
by the body and blood of a real American hero. As soon as 
the grave is covered and a rough cross is placed over it with 
the hero's iron helmet on top and one of his identification tags 
tied on the cross-arm, the boys take up their rifles and bayonets 
and return to their grim task. 

As the casualties occurred we dreaded the effect they would 
have back home. It is not always the man who is wounded 
that deserves the most sympathy. The man who goes through 
the various battles seeing his pals picked off wounded and killed 
has to contend with a terrible mental strain, not a case of fear 
of being killed; but as the others fall he wonders how long he will 
have to wait for his wound, and will it be as bad as the other 
fellows'? 

On receiving word at Headquarters of the above attack, 
Captain Foley, Battalion Commander, immediately organized 
his Headquarters, laid plans for liaison between Battalion and 
Regimental Headquarters, and from Battalion Headquarters 
to the front line. He proceeded immediately through the wheat 
fields from the Town of Bourboulin over the Paris road and into 
the woods on the left of Vaux. Here he established his Head- 
quarters, and then ordered a counter attack. The counter attack 
was made with great success. After the counter attack, and the 
American lines being once more established, Captain Foley went 
about through the Town of Vaux and the other positions held by 
his battalion, encouraging his men and praising them for their 
wonderful work. He gave special commendation to the members 
of "K," who had stood the bulk of the attack. 

It was during this engagement that Lieutenant Fitzgerald 
was killed, he being out in the front with a small group of 
bombers attacking a group of about fifty Germans. After corner- 
ing the Germans, he ordered them to surrender. They all threw 
up their hands, crying "Kamerade," but one German, concealed 
behind a building, used hi- revolver, shooting Lieutenant Fitz- 
gerald in the back of the head, he dying instantly. The fellow 
who had been acting as the Lieutenant"- orderly and who was 



94 DEAR OLD "K" 

with him during this fight, was driven almost insane by the loss of 
his officer; and, turning about, he thrust his bayonet into the 
assassin several times, putting him among the rest of the "good 
ones." 

During this attack, 1st Lieut. George Moyse, of Waltham, 
was in command of K Company. Lieut. Edward Price was 
in command of the first platoon. Lieutenant Price had direct 
supervision of all the "K" boys who were in the thick of this 
attack. During the entire Battle of the Marne (Chateau- 
Thierry) Lieutenant Moyse was in command of "K;" Lieut. 
Edward J. Price was in command of the first platoon ; Lieut. 
Stephen T. Schoonmaker was in command of the second platoon ; 
Lieut. Donald S. Francis was in command of the third platoon; 
and Lieut. Leo A. Adams was in command of the fourth platoon. 

Owing to the great exposure in the positions held by the 
entire battalion on the line, it was not possible to prepare 
meals either in the Town of Vaux or Monneaux. So the roll- 
ing kitchens were placed in the woods in back of the Town 
of Monneaux, at a distance of about one kilometer. Meals were 
prepared here and carried to the men in the lines by ration 
details. This was a very difficult and dangerous task, for hardly 
a single detail passed through without at least one casualty per 
trip. 

Never was there a more faithful and willing crowd than the 
mess sergeants, cooks, and K. P.'s in preparing meals and send- 
ing them to their pals in the line. For K Company, Ed. Reddy 
was a trump. The "K" boys always felt that if it were possible 
to have meals, "Breaky" (Reddy) would have meals there for 
them ; and when no meals were furnished, there was very little 
complaint, for they felt that it was impossible to secure them. 

On the starting of the above attack, all the cooks and 
K. P.'s of K Company and the other three companies of our 
battalion organized into one platoon. As soon as they had 
organized, doing this of their own free will, they immediately sent 
word to Captain Foley that they were all ready, and requested 
that they be allowed to accompany him to the Town of Vaux 
and participate in the counter attack. 



101st IXFAXTRY 95 

This spirit, and the wonderful spirit displayed by the men 
in the line at looking after their buddies who were wounded, 
is far beyond words of praise. The fellows who were fortunate 
enough to escape without wounds or being gassed, insisted upon 
placing themselves in exposed positions to carry in their buddies 
and get them back to the First Aid Station. No thought was 
given to their own difficulties, but these wounded pals had to be 
taken care of. 

The effects of the attack were dying out, and things were 
becoming normal once more, until about noon, when several 
German machine-guns took up positions directly opposite K 
Company's location. These machine-guns were able to enfillade 
the posts held by "K," making it almost impossible for the boys 
to make any move during the daytime. This thing became acute, 
and a quick consultation was held. Sergeant Douglas Ross, 
calling to several of his pals, decided that the machine-gun 
nests must be dispersed. So Ross, accompanied by Ernest Bryant 
and James R. Kirby, proceeded to crawl forward about 14 o'clock 
(2 p. m.) with the intention of capturing or driving out the 
above-mentioned machine-gun nests. These hoy- had gone about 
twenty-five yards when an opportunity presented itself, and all 
three opened fire. Two of the five Boche machine-gunners were 
killed, but by this time all three "K" boys were in a very danger- 
ous position, having very little means of cover. They again 
attempted to attack the nest, advancing on hands and knees, when 
all of a sudden a sniper who had hidden in another nest fired, and 
Kirby rose and said, "Good-by, Doug." He then fell backward 
dead, being shot through the heart. The other two boys re- 
turned safely, but with great difficulty. This was an act of rare 
courage, and all three should have been decorated for same. 
Later Ross was presented with the Distinguished Service Cross 
for this and other acts of bravery during the above attack. 

To reach the front line with reinforcements, Captain Foley 
was compelled to take the reinforcements and counter-attacking 
troops across a large wheatfield which was directly under obser- 
vation by the Germans. This was always a very dangerous per- 
formance, but the thoughts of danger were far from the minds of 
either Captain Foley or his troops. He was determined that 



96 DEAR OLD "K" 

all Germans who had reached the American lines be killed or 
captured, and the lines once more reestablished. While crossing 
through this wheatfield on my second trip, it being necessary for 
me to return to Battalion Headquarters to establish the liaison 
by runners, I was carrying a number of bandoleers (sacks car- 
rying extra ammunition) when a sniper put two holes through 
the canvas straps less than two inches under my knuckles. Need- 
less to say, Mother Earth and I became very close friends. I 
endeavored to hug same tighter than ever. When a fellow is 
prone on the ground with snipers' bullets whizzing within a dis- 
tance of only a few inches over his head, he feels that every blade 
of grass is holding his body at least a couple of feet up from the 
ground. It is anything but a grand and glorious feeling. While 
trying to avoid the bullets of the snipers, we crawled through 
the wheat in an endeavor to get back of a small knoll which might 
be some protection. After crawling on our stomachs for about 
twenty-five meters, we reached what from a distance looked like 
a nice clear spot; but found ourselves right in a group of 
about fifteen dead Boche and three dead Americans. These men 
had been dead for two or three weeks and were now in a decom- 
posed state. Any person who has never crawled into a nest like 
that and been compelled to remain there for some time, being 
almost choked from the stench, cannot appreciate what a weird 
sensation it is. In burying these dead it is often necessary to 
wear gas masks, owing to the odor. 

A member of the 2Cth Division, Photographic Section, who 
was on his way to take some moving pictures-of-action, accom- 
panied us through this field and had the very pleasant sensation 
of having at least one hole shot through his camera. During the 
attack a large number of prisoners were taken. These were 
marched back to Battalion Headquarters, and as usual the detail 
bringing them back secured many souvenirs. 

There had been several rumors that the German Government 
were complaining that their men who were taken prisoners were 
not treated with consideration as per the rules for prisoners of 
war. This was simply propaganda, for when the above prisoners 
were taken to Battalion Headquarters, they were then presented 
by the Y. M. C. A. Secretary with a package of American cig- 




General Von Hindenburg bulldozing his boys 




'.r TlitGirrwAnsrerrfit *r i l Mem*:' ; 
Streel scene near St. Mihiel after attack 




So this is Paris ! 

View of Boulevard taken from steps of Madeleine Church 
in the heart of Paris. 




Community Center, Rubeuville (Vosges) 
All hands meet here to drink (water), wash, and gossip 




The Americans made a wonderful impression in the Paris celebration ot 
Julv L 1918. 




K Company at drill wearing ^as masks. These make mighty uncom- 
fortable veils'. 




1 - I 
9 JJS0 - 

1?He. fiM WHO VYENT 
A.V/.O.L.-TO PAi^ts RjR a * 
MflKW ( BEFORE. H6. WAS CAUitfr) 
WA-. ALVX/AY^ A ftoMANTK HERO To THE. S. O. L.S 

Courteaj at American Legion Weekly 

Punishment thai was n pleasure 



101st INFANTRY 97 

arettes and a bar of American chocolate This was quite a 
contrast to the treatment accorded to our own men in the lines, 
w ho, on account of not being able to secure I he money, wire denied 
these luxuries by the same Secretary for the past two weeks. 

Prisoners taken later during the Chateau Thierry Drive, who 
were members of the same organization as those participating in 
the attack, informed us thai their regimenl Losl approximately 
500 men who had been killed, wounded, or captured during this 
attack. 

Perhaps it would be well to give a slight explanation of the 
reason for the above attack by the enemy. Aboul 16 o'clock 
( I- p. m.), duly 14th, the Germans started their second big drive 
to smash theirway into Paris. This attack was to take place along 
the front from Chateau-Thierry to Rheims, and .'is is the usual 
plan for an attack of this size, some scheme Is devised whereby the 
enemy might he induced to withdraw certain portions of their 
troops from certain points to be attacked, thereby weakening 
the line. So, this attack taking place from Chateau-Thierry to 
the right, the Boche executed a diversion attack on the left of 
Chateau-Thierry, the hulk of which was against the Town of 
Vaux. The enemy artillery, having started at 16 o'clock on the 
afternoon of the 14th, continued until about 9.\ o'clock (8 p. m.), 
at which time the attack started. The French and American 
troops along the entire front being attacked, fought desperately, 
and not only retained their original line, hut in many places 

advanced and drove the Boche hack several kilometers. 

On the night of the 15th the enemy artillery was exceptionally 
active for several hours. During this artillery activity there was 
a heavy thunder and lightning storm. It. was a weird sensation 
to watch the flash of the guns mingling with the flash of the 
lightning, and hear the roar of thunder and cannon as you waited 
in the muddy shell holes awaiting another attack from the enemy. 
Two patrols sent out to secure information lost their bearings, as 
the electric storm interfered with the working of the compa 
carried by the men on the patrol, and they came very mar enter- 
ing t hi German lines. 

About £3 o'clock (11 p. m.) a battalion of the enemy was dis- 
covered opposite our present line, evidently with an intention to 



98 DEAR OLD "K" 

attack. Word was sent to our artillery and a heavy barrage was 
laid on the very spot where this battalion had assembled. The 
enemy dispersed and withdrew. All day, the 17th, "K" was sub- 
jected to heavy shelling with gas and high explosives, this in 
retaliation for the enemy losses of the 15th. During this after- 
noon final orders were received by the officers for the monster 
counter offensive to be launched by the Allies. Late in the eve- 
ning, word was passed to the men that they would prepare for the 
attack which would start on the morning of the 18th. The neces- 
sary extra ammunition, flares, etc., were distributed. The boys 
destroyed all mail and other identification marks in their posses- 
sion which might be of value in identifying our units in the event 
of capture by the enemy. 

When final instructions for the attack of tomorrow were 
issued, one of the men who was most affected in feelings was 
Chaplain Boucher. Father Boucher gathered all the boys who 
were available together in the old barn at Taffourney Farm 
(which was Battalion Headquarters) and after giving words of 
encouragement, all the boys knelt down on the manure covered 
floor and Father Boucher gave them a general absolution. He 
then offered up a prayer for both the Protestant and Catholic 
boys, for in time of battle, there is but one religion with the men 
about to enter the battle, and that is a soldier's creed. "All for 
one (God) and one for all." Father Boucher was a very much 
loved man, for he lived in the front lines with the boys continually, 
and the boys of his battalion never went on raids or attacks 
without him. 

The plah of attack by the Allies was to pivot on Chateau- 
Thierry, extending on the right of Klieims and on the left of 
Soissons. The Town of Yaux at this time was to be the moving 
pivot of the line. The 101st Infantry being the right extreme 
of the line in the Town of Yaux, and the French unit having their 
extreme left joining the 101st, the movement was to be made as a 
pincers. The movement started from Soissons and Rheims closing 
in, thereby forming a pocket, each moving in succession from 
left to center and right to center. 

On the morning of the 18th, the attack started. The move- 
ment continued during the day with success. 



101st INFANTRY 99 

On the 19th, at 1(> o'clock (4 p. m.), the signal was passed for 
the center of the line to advance, narrowing the pocket. The 
signal was given, and our boys started to advance. We had 
not gone very far when we were confronted by an enfillading fire 
which seemed like fifty machine-guns. To advance, it was neces- 
sary to go up a steep banking and across an open plain. The 
enemy were situated in a woods directly in front, and it was in 
these woods that the heavy machine-gun fire was located. Our line 
advanced about 100 meters. Our losses were so heavy that it 
was necessary to hold the line and consolidate until artillery 
assistance could be secured. Our position was also subjected to a 
heavy minnenwerfer fire. These minnenwerfers are very deadly, 
and oftentimes are called "Flying pigs." The shells range in 
size from three to fourteen inches in diameter. When the order 
was issued for our point of the line to advance, one of the first 
men to step up out of the trench and into the open was Sergeant 
William S. Carlyle. He was directing his section of automatic 
rifle men when an explosive bullet from an enemy machine-gun 
struck him and killed him instantly. In the death of Bill Carlyle 
the boys of "K" lost an excellent soldier and a whole-hearted bud- 
die. His platoon mourned the loss of a brave leader and the 
Company the loss of one of its oldest and most fearless soldiers. 
Lieut. Donald Dunbar, of Springfield, and Lieut. James Mans- 
field, of Concord, were both killed within a few minutes after the 
start of this attack. 

In preparing for the attack, Captain Foley was lying prone 
on the ground, answering the telephone, which was brought for- 
ward by the signal corps men and was several times completely 
covered by sand caused by the landing of the minnenwerfers. A 
Runnei- who had just come through with some messages from 
Regimental Headquarters concerning the attack, also brought 
several letters which had been at Headquarters for several days. 
One of these letters Captain Foley opened and found it was from 
his brother and contained some very good news. While reading 
the letter between machine-gun bullets and minnenwerfer shells, 
he repeated one passage in which his brother told how happy he 
was that the war was so nearly over and was pleased to know that 
we were having it easy. This caused a laugh, for such news as 



100 DEAR OLD "K" 

the letter contained could not be imagined at this moment. I 
suggested to the Captain that it was much better that the people 
at home did not know the real news, for it would cause them a lot 
of extra worry. 

Several prisoners were taken at this point, and under great 
difficulty (several punches in the jaw, etc.) were made to disclose 
the location of the "minnies." On discovering the exact location 
of these, our artillery very shortly put them out of commission. 

At 4 o'clock on the morning of the 20th, once more the advance 
was started. This time orders were that nothing in the world 
was to stop our troops. The right end of our line swung along 
the Paris road toward Chateau-Thierry, connecting with the 
French troops on our right. Original orders had it that the 
Americans would take the city, but the French had requested 
that they be allowed the honor of taking the city, and this was 
accorded to them. So, with the French in the city and Americans 
on both edges, thus was Chateau-Thierry captured. The attack 
continued up the sloped-in front of Vaux along the Paris road, 
through ravines, through woods, and over a wide stream. The 
resistance was now confined almost entirely to machine-gun and 
minnenwerfer fire, the Boche retreating and fighting a rear guard 
action. P»y the determined attacks of our troops, all these hin- 
dering points were wiped out, and the occupants either captured 
or killed; and on account of the losses in our ranks during the 
early part of this engagement, the great majority of the enemy 
were listed among the latter class. Very few prisoners were 
taken during the entire Marne Battle. 

It now was apparent that the enemy felt the power of the 
Allied punch and was withdrawing. He was successful in carry- 
ing off considerable of his larger guns, but still a great deal of 
artillery material was left behind in the rush. After four hours 
of fighting, the outskirts of the City of Chateau-Thierry were 
reached, and a small community located here was partly de- 
molished. This section passed through, there faced us a long 
and almost perpendicular hill which had to be climbed. The hill 
looked as though it were straight up and down, and to a lot of 
boys who had been fighting for many days with no food or rest, 
and with the usual load of accouterment resting on their backs, 



1 1 st I NF ANTR Y 101 

I assure you that the climb was not a very welcome one. But 
hill or dale makes no difference in the heat of an attack, and after 
the heart-breaking climb we faced another set of woods. These 
were cleared and a few prisoners taken, they being older men 
who assured us that they did not fire against our troops (their 
usual cry), and were there only because they were forced to 
remain by the officer of their battalion, who threatened to shoot 
them if they retreated. Our boys were now on the plain on the hill 
overlooking the city, and on the west edge of the city (Chateau- 
Thierry). This city, although in the hands of the enemy for some 
time, and having been shelled frequently, was not as badly de- 
molished as some cities and towns we had been in. The outer edges 
of the city suffered most. When first taken a great number of 
elderly French inhabitants were found, who had been there all dur- 
ing the stay of the enemy. They were forced to live in cellars 
while the Boche lived in the luxurious quarters of the large homes. 
In the cathedral of the city, which had been wrecked considerably, 
were found bundles and heaps of loot which had been taken from 
the houses of the city. It was stored in the cathedral, awaiting an 
opportunity to ship back to Germany. Much of the real art of 
the city that was not stolen was daubed with paint and grease or 
spoiled in other ways, thus showing the spirit of the enemy. 

Many lights were left burning in the houses, indicating that 
the Boche left in a great hurry. A halt was made in order to 
reorganize and prepare for further advance. While rounding up 
prisoners through the woods and farmhouses on the hill over- 
looking the city, three mines or traps exploded, killing one and 
wounding about eight other members of G Company, of Worces- 
ter. Late in the afternoon the advance was continued. A railroad 
track and embankment were reached. Here we reorganized and 
waited for further orders. 

During the night of the 22d the farm at which Regimental 
Headquarters was located was set on fire by enemy shells and was 
extinguished only after great effort by the headquarters men. 

On the morning of July 23d, at 3.30 o'clock, the advance was 
continued. The third battalion, on account of its hard fighting 
during the drive and the several days prior, were assigned as 
reserve for the Regiment. C Compan}^ of the first battalion hav- 



102 DEAR OLD "K" 

ing lost a great number of men, the first platoon of K Company 
was assigned to reinforce C Company, and they were to continue 
in the attacking battalion. In advancing through wheatfields and 
woods, the south edge of the Town of Trugny was reached. The 
102d Infantry was to cover Trugny, and the 101st Infantry the 
wheatfields and woods on the right. The first battalion of our 
Regiment proceeded through Trugny Woods and the second bat- 
talion followed in support, at a distance of 500 meters. The third 
battalion followed in reserve. The first battalion was successful 
in passing into the woods. The second battalion also followed 
without any great resistance, but as soon as the third battalion 
had reached the woods, terrific machine-gun fire was opened by the 
enemy from both flanks and the front. The enemy was successful 
in cleverly camouflaging these machine-gun nests, although it 
meant absolute death to the German machine-gunners if they re- 
mained at their position and continued to fire. While this deadly 
machine-gun fire continued, a barrage was laid by the enemy 
directly in rear of our battalion. This barrage started to shorten. 
It was then necessary for our troops to withdraw through the 
barrage 1 for a distance of about 100 meters, to take up a line of 
resistance in the center of the woods and clear the enemy nests 
with snipers and automatic riflemen. During this fight, as the 
machine-guns and the enemy artillery continued to play on our 
men, a large number of casualties occurred. It was in these woods 
that Scotty, the fifteen-year-old Brookline boy, made his name 
famous by doing such wonderful work with his automatic rifle. 
When Scotty was found he was leaning over on his automatic rifle, 
dead; but directly in front of him were thirty-one German bodies 
which he had mowed down before a sniper had picked him off. This 
was just one of the many acts of heroism displayed on this occa- 
sion. I saw two boys carried in by First Aid men badly wounded. 
Each one of these wounded boys had a First Aid Tag tied on his 
coat. These tags had been placed there about an hour previous, 
and both were on their way to the First Aid Station in the rear. 
Learning of the difficulty in which their comrades were, and of the 
number of casualties among their pals, they returned to the fight 
absolutely ignoring their original wounds, and were now carried in 
wounded for the second time within one hour. Another lad who 



101 st INFANTRY 103 

had been shot through the shoulder was lying on a stretcher suffer- 
ing from the effects of a very serious wound, hut he insisted upon 
getting up and walking in order that some huddle more seriously 
wounded would he carried on the stretcher. He walked three 
kilometers to the First Aid Station. These are just a few of like 
incidents showing the love of the hoys for their buddies. Personal 
suffering was second consideration. 

When things looked awfully gloomy, eight large Allied planes 
were seen coming in our direction. At last we fell that assistance 
was near, and all were happy, for these planes could locate enemy 
artillery positions and notify our artillery, and they could be 
counter-batteried and put out of commission. The plane- came 
nearer, sailed low directly over our troops, and much to our 
surprise, as well as discomfort, all eight planes opened their 
machine-guns on our men. We then learned that these planes 
were occupied by German aviators. They had been captured 
during the March drive at Soissons. 

It was during this engagement that Lieut. Howard CummingS 
was mortally wounded. He was assisting in carrying out the 
wounded near Regimental Headquarters when a shell landed close 
by where he and two pals were working. A shell knocked all 
three in one heap. On the arrival of a First Aid man, if was 
discovered that the man on the bottom was dead, the man on the 
top was dead, and Lieutenant ( 'umiiiings in the center had received 
a compound fracture of the skull. Howie's last message before 
his long lapse into unconsciousness was to the doctor, asking him 
to tell the boys of K Company to continue their good work, for 
the folks at home were proud of them. 

Late in the afternoon of the 23d the advance was resumed. 
On the continuing of the attack it was necessary to clear the 
wheal field extending from the Village of Trugny to Trugnv Woods 
on the east, a distance of one kilometer. The wheat field was on a 
slope running up toward Epieds. As soon as our troops started 
to cross through the wheat, a regular hail of machine-gun bullets 
met them. It was now necessary to maneuver about and clear the 
machine-gun nests which infested the field. After about two 
hours of perfect hell, the boys succeeded by infiltration to clear 



104 DEAR OLD "K" 

the advance nests, and then, by a circular movement from the 
front and from Trugny Woods on the right, all the Boche ma- 
chine-gunners were either killed or driven off, most of them the 
former. Even in all this hell it was a funny sight to see some of 
our boys running and chasing the Boche with bayonets and throw- 
ing grenades after them. 

On taking this wheatfield, we found that the Germans had a 
well-organized system of nests, these averaging one to every seven 
or eight yards all along the field in the deep wheat. As the 
casualties occurred here, our First Aid men, with their Red Cross 
flags and brassards, proceeded to go out and bring in the wounded ; 
but the enemy saw fit to break all the unwritten rules of warfare 
and shot and killed these First Aid men even as they displayed 
the insignia of the Red Cross. 

On the morning of the 24th, the Town of Epieds was reached. 
Continuing in the direction of Courpoil, the Regiment was success- 
ful in driving the enemy from each position which they held. 
During the afternoon of the 24th, we were facing a very heavy 
shelling. It was during this shelling that Lieut. Lawrence Fla- 
herty, of Boston, and Capt. Francis Leahy (who was commanding 
the Second Battalion) were killed. Late in the afternoon of the 
24th the Bois de Tary and late in the evening the Bois-de-Fere 
were taken. 

At night, as "K" advanced, we could see the reflection on the 
sky of the illumination from the ammunition dumps which the 
enemy set on fire as they retreated. 

During our stay in these woods we were subjected to terrific 
artillery bombardment. This was placed down to prevent our 
advance, so that the enemy might have more time in withdrawing 
his heavy guns and material. Prior to the starting of every 
attack, picks and shovels are given to the men to carry, so that 
they may be able to dig in on establishing a new position. All 
during this present drive, I had carried a shovel with expectation 
that as soon as our objective had been reached, or that it became 
necessary to dig in, I would be equipped with the necessary tool 
for digging. On reaching the Bois-de-Fere, in which our battalion 
halted for reorganization, we decided that some cover was neces- 



1 1 st I NF ANTR Y 105 

sary for safety. After throwing off my pack, I took the shovel, 
as did many of the other hoys, and endeavored to dig in; but, on 
touching the shovel to Mother Earth, much to our disappointment, 
we found that nothing less than dynamite would make an impres- 
sion, for we had halted on a rocky section. Hence, I discarded my 
pet shovel, collected several large limbs of trees, and made a lean- 
to with the hope that this might stop shell fragments. During 
this shelling, Colonel Logan and his entire staff were located in 
a gutter alongside the road near Bois-de-Fere. This was a splcn- 1 
did spirit shown by the Colonel for being exposed this way, as it 
gave added courage to his men. It is just one instance of the 
reason Colonel Logan was so well loved by his men. 

There were two classes of men who did wonderful work and 
whose brave deeds and heroic efforts were carried on and often 
unnoticed and never recorded — the "Litter Bearers" (stretcher 
bearers). These men worked like busy bees during every en- 
gagement. They administered First Aid to the wounded and 
often had to carry a buddie on a stretcher for two or three kilo- 
meters before reaching a dressing station, and this work was done 
under heavy shell and machine-gun fire. Their motto always was, 
"FTelp your buddie first and never mind yourself." 

"The Runners" — these boys who carried messages through .all 
kinds of bombardments and never found time to allow shell fire or 
gas to prevent the delivering of a message which they were in- 
trusted with. There were many means of sending messages from 
the front lines to the rear — telephone, telegraph, dogs, pigeons, 
wireless, buzzer phone, rockets, blinker lights, and runners. The 
always sine and reliable course was the runner. He could be 
depended upon. It was inspiring to watch these runners as they 
passed through gas-covered and shell-swept territory, and in a 
short while after the message which meant so much to the result 
of every engagement was delivered safely, they could he seen rush- 
ing back with a reply message, often calling for reinforcements or 
much-needed ammunition, etc. To show the danger under which 
these runners worked, it might he mentioned that often ten or 
twelve runners were killed before a single message was delivered. 
When the full history of the war is written, I hope the "Stretcher 
Bearers" and the "Runners" will receive just recognition and 
their full share of praise. 



106 DEAR OLD "K" 

Much has been said about America coming into the war late, 
and that the French and British had fought for so much longer a 
period than the Americans. This may be true in length of time 
of participation, but the old adage once more has proved its 
worth, when they say, "Actions speak louder than words." One 
of the best examples, which might prove that the United States 
made up in actions what they lost in time, is as follows: 

When this present drive started (2d Battle of the Marne), 
joining the 101st Infantry at the apex of the movement was the 
154th French Infantry Regiment. When the advance started on 
the 19th, this regiment advanced alongside of the 101st. On the 
night of the 21st, the 154th French Regiment was relieved by the 
140th French Infantry Regiment. The 146th Infantry Regiment 
advanced and on the night of the 22d was relieved by the 150th 
French Infantry. This regiment continued the attack until late 
in the afternoon of the 24th, at which time the 156th French 
Regiment was relieved by the 101st U. S. Infantry. Thus, the 
101st Infantry, with the entire 26th Division, continued to ad- 
vance, while three French Infantry Regiments, advancing along- 
side of it, were relieved; and the Third French Regiment to be 
relieved was relieved by the 101st Infantry. 

If this situation occurred with our Regiment, I have reason 
to believe that it must have occurred with others. It gives a very 
good idea of how fast and hard Americans worked during the 
length of time which they participated in European festivities. 

Late in the afternoon of July 25th, our Regiment was relieved 
by the 168th V. S. Infantry ( 42d Division). We then marched 
back and acted as support until the afternoon of the 26th. 

Late in the afternoon of the 26th, the 101st Infantry started 
for the rear, marching through a heavy rain and deep mud to the 
Laconois Farm, which was situated on the crest of the hill on the 
west edge of Chateau-Thierry. Here in the woods, surrounding 
the Farm, our battalion was to be billeted. With the heavy rain 
and no shelter, most of the boys stood up for the rest of the 
night, hoping that daybreak would bring sunshine, to dry up 
the ground in order that they might have a chance to lie down 
and rest. Although exhausted from the terrific strain under 
which they had been fighting the two weeks previous, no great 



1 1 st INF A XT R Y 107 

amount of complaining or kicking was done; hut one could hear, 
all through the woods, the famous saying which was used by the 
French soldiers when anything went wrong, "C'est hi Guerre." 
(It is the war.) We remained in the woods for the next three 
days and the rain continued for two of the three days, stopping 
only at intervals. 

The 29th, the Regiment moved hack to the Town of Bezu. On 
the night of the 29th, the billeting partj was sent out to the 
Village of Caumont. 

July 30th, at 10 a. m., our battalion arrived in the Village 
of Caumont. We were to remain in this town for several days, 
it being our first rest in six months. The town itself had been 
evacuated, there remaining hut two families. The Boche having 
advanced close to this village, all the people moved to the in- 
terior of the country. This section was also the scene of tin- first 
Battle of the Marne. As was the case with the City of Meaux, 
where we billeted prior to the Chateau-Thierry Drive, this was 
the farthest advance of the enemy in 1914. 

We remained in Caumont until August 5th. Regimental Head- 
quarters was located at this time in the Village of St. Auld, and 
the Divisional Headquarters in the- Town of Nanteuil. During 
our stay here, regimental and divisional maneuvers were held in 
preparing for our next engagement. Also, while located here, 
an order was issued granting each officer and enlisted man (who 
could scrape the price together) a forty-eight-hour pass to visit 
Paris. .Many of the members of K Company took advantage- of 
this trip. Lieutenants Dave Brickley and John Riley (the fighting 
Irishman) and I secured our forty-eight hours. We felt that in- 
asmuch as we had helped to save Paris, it was no more than right 
that we should help to paint the city. Hence, our plans were laid 
accordingly. Following the old adage, "When in Rome, do as 
the Romans do." we applied this adage to Paris. Several mem- 
bers of "K" also visited the city. 

While in Paris on a visit, .Major Foley and several other offi- 
c< rs were invited to visit one of the schools in which English was 
taught. To show off the children, the teacher had them recite 
in English for the visitors. To show that they were familiar 
with all the countries of the Allies, the teacher asked if any child 



108 DEAR OLD "K" 

knew the National anthem of England. One child arose and said, 
"God Save the King." When asked if he knew the anthem of 
France, the reply was, "La Marseillaise." When the question as 
to the National anthem of America was asked, nearly every child 
raised his hand. Calling on one boy, the teacher said, "Tell us 
the name of the National anthem of these brave Americans who 
came so many thousands of miles and fought so heroically for 
France." The boy replied, "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here!" 

On August 10th, a Divisional Athletic Meet was held at 
Nanteuil (sur Marne). 

Often the sarcastic cry of "Who won the War?" has been 
heard, and the usual reply is called back, "The Y. M. C. A." or 
"The M. P.'s." The people wonder at the universal feeling 
against these two branches. As to the former (the Y.) I have 
nothing to say, for I feel that a tremendous lot has already been 
heaped upon it. But our friends the M. P.'s were ever a despised 
set. It certainly is too bad that the disfavor of an entire army is 
drawn down on this branch of our service, and all on account of 
a small percentage of overbearing individuals who wore the in- 
signia (M. P.). The greatest complaint against the Military 
Police was raised in Paris. It was here that the much heralded 
"Hard-Boiled Smith" held sway. If a fellow on pass missed one 
train, and chanced to be a few minutes overtime in the City of 
Paris, he was handcuffed, rushed to one of the dungeons for which 
Paris is so famous, and in this he would go through various forms 
of torture almost equal to those of olden days. He was beaten 
by fists and clubs, from two to five M. P.'s assaulting one lone 
doughboy ; and if he was ordered to do a special work, he was 
made to move at a double time with his hands held high above his 
head. This was nice treatment of boys who had fought in the 
lines, been wounded, gassed, etc., and were now having a breathing 
spell, to be administered by a lot of "official slackers" whose lives 
were being protected by these same boys who they were now beat- 
ing up. It cannot be said that this was going on and not known 
to the high officers of the Paris district. Complaint after com- 
plaint was sent in ; but it did no good, and the custom prevailed. 
If the prayers of the doughboys are ever heard and their requests 
granted, I fear that the M. P.'s of Paris will lead rather uncom- 
fortable lives. 



1 01 st INFANTRY 109 

August 13th, at 19.15 o'clock (7.15 p. m.), a hike was started. 
After marching sixteen kilometers, we reached the entrainment 
point. Our trains left at 1.45 (a. m.), and after passing through 
Chateau-Thierry, Dormans, Epernay, Chalon-sur-Marne, and 
many other large cities and towns that had been used up during 
the last offensive by the Allies, we arrived at our destination at 
19 o'clock (7 p. m.). 

After detraining, a hike was started, marching twenty kilo- 
meters to the Town of Reil-les-Eaux. Here we were to he billeted. 
Although it was 1.30 (a. m.) when "K" arrived, the news of our 
coming had reached the inhabitants, and they were out to extend 
a very cordial welcome. We were the first American troops to be 
billeted in this section. 

August 15th was the Feast of the Assumption. This Feast 
was celebrated by all the inhabitants of the town. Late this eve- 
ning, the town "cut-up" was out with his violin. He had been cele- 
brating most of the day, for it was also the anniversary of the 1st 
Battle of the Marne. After mixing his drinks during the day, 
the tunes which he endeavored to play were like his drinks, very 
much mixed; but his crowning effort was reached when he en- 
deavored to serenade the Americans by playing the "Star- 
Spangled Banner." This effort might have been anything from 
a Jazz tune to "Coming through the Rye." This was our first 
real rest, and all that was required of the men while- in this rest 
area was to drill and participate in athletic exercises for eight 
hours per day. The usual soldierly games wcr^ played while 
located here, such as replenishing the ration bill with potatoes 
and other vegetables, taken from back gardens, etc. Several 
Frenchmen discovered that their potatoes were wilting and were 
at a loss to find out why until a thorough investigation was 
started. It was then learned that the boys had pulled up the 
potatoes and placed the stalks back into the ground. Hence, the 
solution of the wilting. 

When it comes to putting over a good deal and taking a trick, 
you could always lay your odd francs on the fellows from God's 
Own Country (U. S. A.). When a leave was granted to them 
or when the evil spirit of that monster A. \Y. O. I>. (Absent With- 
out Leave) overtook them, they started on their way. Of course 



110 DEAR OLD "K" 

to get to any place a trip on the train was necessary, and one of 
the things that seemed most foolish to our boys was the custom of 
paying fares on trains. When the French conductor would ap- 
proach and ask for fares, they would hand out a long line of real 
foolish talk and appear as though they were there proceeding on a 
very important mission. Often they would shrug their shoulders 
and say "Pas comprenons," and if this didn't work they produced 
any kind of a paper which had an official looking stamp on it ; and 
as the conductor could not comprenait Anglais, the boys got away 
with it. Once in a while even a United Cigar Store coupon was 
presented, and with success. The conductor on the train carried 
a small mouth horn which was blown as the signal to start the 
train. It did not take the boys from home very long to get onto 
this scheme and in a short time more than a dozen of these small 
horns were blowing on each train. These horns in the hands of 
our boys were the bane of the conductor's life. 

On August 21st, the Regimental Band was secured from Head- 
quarters, which was located at Chatillon, to come to Reil-les-Eaux 
and give a concert. This concert created a great stir among the 
inhabitants. The belle of the town came forward and presented 
the band-leader (Mr. L'African) with a large and beautiful bou- 
quet of flowers. He returned the compliment, and also aroused 
the envy of the entire battalion by kissing the fair maiden on both 
cheeks. This was the first band which was heard by the inhabi- 
tants of the village in forty-eight years. In 1870, a band marched 
through the village with French troops after the driving out of 
the Germans in the Franco-Prussian War, and played as they 
marched by. It was a big day for Reil-les-Eaux. We were to 
have movies in the evening, but it rained and this sport was 
canceled, so instead Fred Thayer and Pat (Lawrence) Nugent 
furnished a few of their side-splitting acts. 

It would indeed be thoughtless if I did not say a word for our 
regimental band. Ask any man in the 101st Infantry which was 
the best band in the A. E. F. and he would reply, the 101st In- 
fantry Band. That might seem like bragging, but to prove that 
it was so, one can point to the various orders issued by General 
Pershing himself requesting that he be given the use of the band 
for several ceremonies in which he took part. Later a letter of 
commendation was issued by the General, telling of the splendid 



10 1st INFANTRY 111 

quality of the band, and he requested that other organizations 
arrange their bands according to the system of the 101st In- 
fantry Band. And still as further proof, about the middle of 
August an order was sent from G. H. Q. (General Headquarters), 
by order of Genera] Pershing, taking twenty-two members of our 
band and attaching them to the General's own band. This made 
a great dent in the band, but Mr. L'African started in and built 
up another out of all green material. Among the buglers in 
the bugle section of the band was Tommie Hamilton, of "K." Tom- 
mie was considered one of the best buglers in the A. E. F. An- 
other leading member of the band was Francis L. Smith, of "K." 
He played a cornet. Amasa Grovesnor was also a member in the 
bugle section. 

The old sa3 r ing is, "Music hath charms." I wonder if the 
originator of this saving ever heard our bugler Ted (Edward) 
Safford blowing Reveille or Mess Call. When he pressed his lips 
to the mouthpiece of that bugle and put on pressure, he cer- 
tainly put expression into it. His calls always stood out from 
the other buglers — they were so different. Mike Madden said, 
"As a musician he would make a good K. P." (Kitchen Police). 

August 29th the Regiment left this area, leaving Reil-les-Eaux 
at 14 o'clock. After marching twenty-one kilometers, arrived at 
La Tracy about 21 o'clock. 

August 30th, left La Tracy at 3 o'clock a. m. Arrived at 
Tronville-en-Barrois, and then hiked five kilometers to the Bois- 
de-la-Garrenie. Left these woods at 9 o'clock and marched nine- 
teen kilometers to the woods between Couly and Rasson, near 
Bel-Au-Farm. 

We remained in these woods, making ourselves as comfortable 
as possible on the damp ground, for it had been raining during the 
past two days. 

The night of September 6th, it was decided that it was cheaper 
to move than to pay rent, so we moved from these woods and 
hiked about ten kilometers through the rain and mud caused by the 
rain of the past week to another set of woods. 

Our present location was to be held awaiting the start of the 
St. Mihiel Drive. We were now located about one-half kilometer 
on the left of the Town of Mouillv. 



112 DEAR OLD "K" 

The close calls a fellow has to making a visit to St. Peter ju-c 
many and varied. Among the real close calls and one with a thrill 
and a hit of humor thrown in was the escape of Lieut. George 
Corbin, former commander of "K." Lieutenant Corbin had been 
on the sick list for more than two months, and in July had re- 
covered sufficiently to be chosen to return to America as an 
instructor for the troops then under training in the home camps. 
The Lieutenant, with a party of others who were under orders 
to return to the United Stales, proceeded to the division entrain 
ing point, the depot at Le Ferte. They just missed the late 
afternoon train for the sailing port, so they had to remain at 
this station until early the following morning. No quarters could 
be hired in the town, so the party made improvised bunks on 
the floor of the basement under the depot. All went well until 
2 o'clock (a. m.), when a flock of German aviators came across 
the Allied lines and chose a course leading over the Le Ferte 
Depot. When directly over the depot, one of the machines 
dropped an aerial bomb. The bomb wrecked tin- entire depot, 
and the concussion threw Lieutenant Corbin in the air and out 
through the basement window, and clear across Hie street. Out- 
side of a slight jarring up and being covered with mud, he was 
unhurt. The others escaped with only slight injuries. 

September 7th — more rain. This is the first anniversary of 
our sailing from the shores of the dear old L. S. A. Oh, how 
many strange things have happened since we started on that long 
journey ! 

September 8th — more rain. 

September Dili, 10th, and 11th— still more rain. The men by 
this time were drenched to the skin and mud-soaked. Still they 
maintained a wonderful morale where one would expect to hear 
continual complaining and grouching; instead, voices could be 
heard through the woods singing and telling stories. This seems 
almost unbelievable, hut it is absolutely true. 

The night of the 11th, there was a meeting of all of the offi- 
cers of our Regiment, each battalion-group meeting in its own 
respective location. Maps were distributed, general instructions 
for the attack of tomorrow were given, and plans thoroughly 




is the Vaux 'Sur Marne depot in which "K " boys had a desperate 
fight <ni .inl\ 15. J Ik- run , I «;is a warm fighl while it lasted. 




The remaining walls of the church in the Village of 
Etambicourt. 

" K "' boj - •'■ ere stationed very close to this church when 
it was hit. 




German front line at St. Mihiel as K Company crossed it in starting battle of 
St. Mihiel Salient. Note destruction by American artillery. 




Main Street, Vaux. after K f"ompany had advanced in Chateau-Thierry battle. 
Hill 204- at upper right. It was on the hill, upper left of picture, that Jim Kirby 
and Bill Carlisle were killed. 



1 1 s t INFANTRY 113 

gone over. This meeting broke up at 4 o'clock (a. m.). As the 
meeting dispersed the barrage for the- attack could be heard start- 
ing. The officers at tempted to secure an hour's rest before going 
forward to the point of jumping off. 

On the morning of September 12th (4 ,\. m.), the Allied bar- 
rage started — hell opened up — and the great Battle of St. Mihie] 
Salient was then on. The artillery continued to pound the enemy 
lines until 8.55 o'clock. At "H" hour (8.52) the signal was 
given and the fight was on. Our line started to advance at this 
time. Our first objective was to cross the Tranchee-de-Cologne, a 
very strong German line. Lying between this Tranchee-de-Cologne 
and our jumping-off point was approximately 300 meters of 
barbed-wire entanglement. The artillery was successful in break- 
ing down and demolishing a great deal of this wire. Still, passage 
was difficult. Many machine-gun nests were hidden in strong 
points at various locations; thus the passage through the wire 
was a tough job. After passing through this wire, there was 
then a deep ravine to go through. The ravine contained a greal 
number of concrete trenches and concrete pillboxes. These also 
added to our discomfort. About noon of this day, the first ob- 
jective was reached. A halt was then made to reorganize and 
consolidate, and prepare for further advance. Thirty thousand 
French troops were lost in an attempt to capture this same terri- 
tory which we were now passing over. 

The first battalion was the assaulting section of our Regi- 
ment. The second and third battalions acted as support, with 
the 102d Infantry in reserve. The 101st Infantry was to ad- 
vance on the left and the French Infantry on the right of the 
101st. Owing to casualties and a greater interval than was ex- 
pected existing between the right of our Regiment and the French 
troops. Captain Foley, Battalion Commander, ordered his K 
and I Companies to enter the assault line and act as liaison 
between organizations, L and M Companies to advance in support. 
During the advance to this point, one member of "K" was lying 
on the ground, firing in the direction of a machine-gun nest, when 
a shell from the German artillery landed, hitting him in the middle 
of the back. This was the only death which occurred in K Com- 
pany during the advance. When this shell landed, there were 



114 DEAR OLD "K" 

men all around the lad who was hit, but not a single other casualty 
occurred with this shell. It was just one of the freak pranks of 
a shell. 

In many attacks and on large raids the Boche delighted in 
using liquid fire as a weapon. That liquid fire is a dreadful thing, 
for it is sure death. Everything that comes in contact with it 
burns to a crisp. It was during this present drive that our 
troops used for the first time a new weapon to counteract 
liquid fire. A platoon of Trench Mortars accompanied our bat- 
talion, and in places where machine-gun nests were stubborn, the 
Trench Mortar crew would fire a few of their stokes shells which 
contained thermite, and these thermite pills would disperse the 
nests of machine-gunners. The shells would rise from the mortars 
to a height of about seventy-five meters, then burst and spray a 
shower of real liquid fire which covered a radius of twenty-five 
meters. These shells did the trick every time. 

About 16 o'clock (4 p. m.) the 102d Infantry passed through 
the 101st to act as the assaulting troops. 

About 21 o'clock orders were issued from Headquarters, 26th 
Division, that the rate of advance be increased and the final ob- 
jective of our Division would be the Towns of Hattonchatel and 
Vignelle. To reach these towns, it was necessary to cover a dis- 
tance of approximately twenty-two kilometers through woods 
which were strewn with barbed-wire and other entanglements. 

The 101st Machine-Gun Company was ordered to proceed to 
the Town of Vignelle. This Company, under the command of 
Capt. John Comerford, reached the above town about 1 o'clock on 
the morning of the 13th. One hour later the 102d Infantry 
reached the same location. 

The 101st Infantry reached its objective, Hattonchatel, about 
4.30 o'clock. All objectives were reached about daybreak, and we 
found the entire town had been set on fire and mined, buildings 
blowing up at regular intervals. It was very dangerous, and no 
man was permitted to go inside a building. Hattonchatel is on 
the crest of the hill overlooking the Woevre Plain, which stretched 
out on a level plain between this point and the City of Metz, which 
was a distance of thirty-one kilometers, northeast. Vignelle lay 
at the foot of the slope leading from Hattonchatel, resting on the 



1 l st INF ANTR Y 115 

open plain. It was a sad sight to look over the entire plain and 
see villages in all directions being burned, smoke and flame rising 
from every village. About one-half kilometer to the left of Hat- 
tonchatel was the Town of Vieville. In this town could be seen 
many Germans moving about. A number of the "K" boys re- 
quested permission to go to the town and bring in these Germans 
as prisoners. About fifty prisoners were thus brought in. 

The first four fellows to reach this village were passing by a 
partly demolished house and, much to their surprise, two old 
French ladies stepped up from the cellar and looked at the boys 
in amazement. At first they were afraid, but when Ted Safford 
spoke to them in French (with a little exertion and much arm 
movement Ted could speak French) they asked who the boys 
were ; and on learning that they were Americans, and were there 
to release them rather than to abuse them, as they had been led 
to believe by the German soldiers that the Americans always 
abused people, both of the old ladies ran over and threw their 
arms about the boys' necks and kissed them. They then began 
to cry with joy. It was just exactly four years to the day and 
almost to the hour from that time that their village and the people 
were captured by the enemy, that they were released. It was on 
September 13th, 1914, at 10 o'clock, that the Germans captured 
this section. When the village was taken in 1914 the enemy 
placed all the elderly people under guard, forced all the men and 
boys to march to Germany and assist at manual labor, and made 
all the unmarried and childless married women act as orderlies to 
their officers. These are facts gained from these old women just 
released. 

It was during this present attack that Lieut. Ralph Donnelly, 
of Worcester, was killed. He died the day on which he was pro- 
moted to Captain, September 13th. 

During the attack Lieut. James R. Kelly, of Worcester, re- 
ceived thirty-three pieces of shell fragment in his body, but Jim, 
being a tough old warrior, came through with flying colors. 

Ralph Donnelly's loss was a severe blow to his company and 
regiment. He and I had been pals since our arrival in France, 
and I desire to state that no braver or more loyal soldier ever 
lived than Ralph Donnelly. His record is his eulogy. He was 



116 DEAR OLD "K" 

shot through the lung while advancing at the head of his own men, 
a German sniper causing his death. His was a case of being brave 
to a fault. He knew not what the word fear meant. 

We remained in Hattonchatel until the afternoon of the 14th. 

The wiping out of the St. Mihiei Salient, whi?h had been a 
German stronghold all during the war, was a splendid piece of 
strategy by the American forces. The 26th Division, coming from 
the left end of the Salient, was to be met in the center by the 
First Division, they coming across the open plain and the French 
troops coming from the apex of the pocket (St. Mihiei) forward. 
Thus, on the closing of the 26th and First Divisions, all of the 
enemy which remained in the pocket were taken prisoners. Sev- 
eral other American Divisions participated in this drive, advanc- 
ing from the center of the movement with the French. 

These two divisions (First and 26th), according to schedule, 
would have met about 8 o'clock on the morning of the 13th, at the 
center of the Salient east of Yignelle ; but the 26th Division, 
driving with great force, reached their objective by 1.30 o'clock 
and the First Division did not reach their objective until 10.30 
o'clock. It was a great sight to stand on the crest of the hill 
at Hattonchatel and watch the cavalry and tanks crossing the 
plains, driving the enemy before them, many of the Boche falling 
into the hands of the waiting 26th Division men, who made them 
prisoners. 

As the Infantry of the First Division closed in toward Vign- 
elle, they saw troops in Yignelle and Hattonchatel and imme- 
diately deplo} r ed to attack, for they thought that the enemy was 
still occupying this area. It was a great surprise to them to 
discover that these towns had been taken and were now occupied 
by American troops. Less than an hour after a number of troops 
had passed over the main road leading into Yignelle, loud ex- 
plosions were heard and the road and portions of the field along- 
side the road for a distance of 500 meters were blown up, it hav- 
ing been mined by the enemy. Many roads were discovered as 
having been mined, but the American engineers, ever alert, dis- 
covered the mines and destroyed them, thereby preventing much 
damage and great casualties to our troops. This is just one of 
the great feats accomplished by our engineer troops. They should 



1 1 st I NF ANTR Y 117 

be given credit for a considerable portion of all victories, for theirs 
was a difficult and dangerous work. 

During the advance of our entire Division in this attack, many 
hundred prisoners were taken. So many, in fact, that large 
groups of prisoners were sent back to Headquarters with only one 
or two boys in charge. 

One of the funny incidents which occurred in taking prisoners 
was that which happened to boys of K Company. Peruda 
Maudsley and Joseph Gillis, during one of the halts along the 
road leading to Hattonchatel, discovered a small wooden shack 
which had been used by the enemy for a First Aid Station. They 
decided to explore the shack and see if any souvenirs might be 
lying around. On reaching a small piazza in front of the building 
a door was thrown open and a large chorus of "Kamerade" was 
heard from within. Both boys, having left their rifles standing 
against a tree a few yards away, were armed with a stick and were 
as much taken with surprise as the men inside were with fear. On 
regaining their bearing, Maudsley commanded the men to step out, 
and out walked fourteen husky Germans and Austrians. The 
boys marched them to the Battalion Commander and turned them 
over. Gillis was ordered to take the fourteen men to the rear. 
He started along the main road, had gone about two kilometers 
and decided that he had better check up and see if all the four- 
teen prisoners were in line. On making the count, to his surprise 
there were twenty-two in line. Gillis began to feel that he did 
not know how to count or that for once figures lied. On second 
count he decided figures were right and started on his way. On 
reaching Headquarters, three kilometers further on, he reported 
to the officer in charge that he had twenty-two prisoners. The 
officer made a count and found thirty-four in line. After a thor- 
ough investigation of how these figures lied, it was discovered that 
manv of the enemy which had been camouflag-ed and overlooked 
by the advance, on seeing the prisoners marching by, would look 
out of the woods, and when Gillis was not looking would step into 
the line and march along. They felt that this was much safer 
than to stay in the woods and be captured or killed there. 

In the group of prisoners taken was one who seemed inclined 
to talk freely, so the Intelligence Officers asked him if he 



118 DEAR OLD "K" 

knew what he was fighting for. He said, "Yes, Germany was 
fighting to preserve the Fatherland from being overridden by 
England." The officer then asked him if he knew what the other 
countries were fighting for and he said, "Yes, England is fighting 
to destroy my Fatherland, Belgium was compelled to fight on 
account of her stubbornness, France for protection and to regain 
possession of Alsace-Lorraine, and the Americans for souvenirs." 
It was a common and encouraging sight to see two or three 
hundred prisoners marching along the road to the rear. One 
group which had been captured numbered about two hundred, and 
in this group was a complete Regimental German Band. We were 
later told that when this band reached Headquarters, they 
were forced to play the "Star-Spangled Banner" and the 
"Marseillaise." 

Men were not the only prisoners that were taken, for a great 
number of horses and large auto trucks were also captured. 
Among the most noted of the animal captures was a horse which 
was totally blind and a one-seated buggy taken in by the 
mechanics of "K" under the leadership of Timmy Wallace, 
George O'Malley, William Young, and Frank Mullen, all mechan- 
ics (in name only). All voted that Timmy was to be the coach- 
man. The blind horse and the carriage were to be used for detail 
work with the kitchen. This one-seated buggy was compelled to 
carry almost as many passengers when going on a detail as a 
Ford on its way to an excursion. 

A large supply shed, which was captured in one village (Vie- 
ville), contained a great amount of vegetable supplies. Coach- 
man Wallace and his detail started for some of these supplies for 
"K," but going only halfway, Friend Horse decided that he did 
not understand English commands after being with the Germans so 
long; so he halted in his tracks and refused to move. An hour's 
labor and hard expressions were wasted trying to induce it to 
move, but without result, and from latest reports, I believe the 
horse is still in the same spot. 

For several days prisoners were being taken in various parts 
of the woods in which we were now located. Six of these prisoners 
were taken to K Company's location and made to act as kitchen 
police for two days. Our boys refused to wash even their own 



101st INFANTRY 119 

mess-kits, and the newly acquired help had to do all labors. After 
two days, these prisoners, who were Austrians, were sent to the 
rear. 

The following letter from the Parish Priest of Mouilly, a 
town which our boys had just liberated, displays the gratitude 
of the poor people: 

" Rupt-en- Woevre, 
September 13, 1918. 
"Sir: 

"Your gallant Twenty-Sixth American Division has just set us 
free. 

"Since September, 1914, the barbarians have held the heights of 
the Meuse, have foully murdered three hostages from Mouilly, have 
shelled Rupt, and on July 23, 1915, forced its inhabitants to scatter 
to the four corners of France. 

"I, who remain at my listening post upon the advice of my bishop, 
feel certain, sir, that I do but speak for Monseigneur Ginisty, lord 
bishop of Verdun, my parishioners of Rupt, Mouilly, and Genicourt, 
and the people of this vicinity in conveying to you and your asso- 
ciates the heartfelt and unforgettable gratitude of all. 

"Several of your comrades lie at rest in our truly Christian and 
French soil. 

"Their ashes shall be eared for as if they were our own. We 
shall cover their graves with flowers and shall kneel by them as their 
own families would do, with a prayer to God to reward with eternal 
glory these heroes fallen on the field of honor, and to bless the Twenty- 
Sixth Division and Generous America. 

"Be pleased, sir, to accept the expression of my profound respect. 

"A. Leclerc, 
Cure of Rupt-en-Woevre." 

An addition which we acquired at this particular location were 
rather unwelcome companions. The boys had been affected with 
our friends, the cooties (often referred to as Trench Dandruff), 
for some time; but now there was to be competition, for a great 
number of German fleas attached themselves to us to assist in our 
daily exercises and tortures. As I told one of the boys, these 
fleas were really part of our daily life, for we were now living the 
life of dogs. 

At 17 o'clock, September 14th, "K" was relieved by French 
troops. We then marched about seven kilometers to the rear and 
were billeted among a lot of old straw and hay, which had been 
left in the St. Remey Bois. We remained here until 21 o'clock, 
September 17th, at which time we moved forward to Waddonville 



120 DEAR OLD • • K ' ' 

Sector, a distance of t en kilometers. K Company was billeted in 
the Town of Hannonville. I Company was assigned to Waddon- 
ville, Unci' kilometers in front of Hannonville on tin- plain. I 
Company was reinforced with one platoon of "K," Battalion 
Headquarters being placed on the hill directly in back of Hannon- 
ville, with I- and i\I Companies in reserve, they being located in 

the woods; also, directly in hack of Hannonville. 

When K Company reached Hannonville, a number of French 
civilians still remained in the village; but, immediately upon taking 
over the town, the Germans opened heavy artillery fire, which was 
continued each da \ and night, making it impossible for the civil- 
ians to remain. So they packed up what equipment they might 
move on t rinks and baby carriages and started tor the rear. 

Speaking about baby carriages, in practically every section of 
I he northern part of France, one will see baby carriages all about 
them; lad these are used only for carrying in vegetables ami wood 
from the fields. "Thai was our idea of nothing at nil," that baby 
carriages should he used alone for carting vegetables and wood. 

On the evacuation of the people from Hannonville, a large 

number {>( rabbits, which are favorite animals of the French, were 

left. So with the fully equipped homes, plenty of rabbits, lots of 
vegetables, and a good deal of dessert, the boys of "K" lived the 

life of luxury for a week at least. At meal time, the Mess Sergeant 

would not have more than eight or ten men at the Company 
Kitchen, for banquets were taking place all over tin- village in 
ever} dug-out, regardless of the shelling by the enemy. These 
banquets were a greal blessing, for supplies and rations wore 
Coming very slowly from our own supph company. 

Thi' usual front line activities, consist inn- of a steady, daily 
and nightly diet of shells and gas, took place in this sector. Com- 
panies exchanged places between Hannonville and W'addonville 
unt il the relief of the bat talion. 

On the night of September 22d an attack executed by the 

enemy on Waddouvillc resulted in the death of 2d Lieut. Andrew 
Gerdin, who had been with K Company for only two weeks. Also 
of Ralph \Y. Douglass and Leon \Y. Josselyn. Lieutenant Gerdin 

was killed while calling to several Germans who had cried "Kam 
erade" to come forward. Another German lying in ambush shot 



I I si I N F A N T BY 121 

the Lieutenanl as soon as he exposed himself. This was a favorite 
trick of the Germans. The bodies of the Lieuti riant, Douglas, and 
Josselyn were taken back to the little cemetery in Hannonville 
and buried by the boys of "K," the Company mechanics making 
the coffins and a very nice railing to place aboul each grave. 
Theirs was a sad but wonderful funeral. 

During the stay in Hannonville, several casualties occurred. 
On one occasion a shell Landed in the dug oul where a number of 
"K" boys were billeted. The following men were wounded with 
this shell: Patrick .J. McDevitt, John M. Curtis, Elmer L. Tat- 
man, and Frederick G. Thayer. Curtis losl three fingers from his 
lefl hand and Tatman suffered the loss of his lefl eye. Sergeant 
John J. O'Toole, who was sitting close by tljc other men, was 
thrown againsl the wall, but otherwise wa not injured. 

lo the billet situated across the streel occured another inci- 
denl which amused the boys. Mike Schofield had located a partly 
dilapidated bed remaining in a demolished house which had only a 
portion of the walls and part of the roof remaining. Mike set up 
the bed, placed a roughly painted sign on the floor, which was only 
a hole made by a large shell, reading "Kelly's Basemen! Dances 
every Saturday night -Bring your own cop." He then made him- 
self as comfortable as if he w<rc in the Plaza Hotel, New York. 
Mike Cunningham, following out his usual custom of borrowing, 
wenl to Kelly's basement to borrow a pair of Schofield's so< 
finding the place empty, Cunningham made himself al home and 
lay down on the old bed. He was there aboul fifteen mini 
v.li< fi a terrible roar was heard which nearly turned his hair pomp- 
adour style. A large enemy shell which proved *o be ;< dud came 
sailing in through the window, grazed along the floor, under the 
bed, and Lodged in an upright position in the wall near the bed. 
Cunningham 3a1 up, gave one look, then impersonated another 
fJufJ and dove out tin- window through which the shell had just 
come in. After picking himself up out of the mud, he said he had 
no desire to be an individual targel for anj large shells. 

A dud, as referred to above, is a shell which when fired does 
not explode. Oftentimes a dud will do far more damage than 
on<- that explodes, lor it will penetrate a greal depth info build- 



122 DEAR OLD "K" 

ings or dug-outs, whereas the shell that explodes usually does so 
upon striking the outer wall or surface. 

When the men were situated in Waddonville, no meals could 
be prepared during the daytime, for the slightest activity would 
cause a deluge of shells to be thrown by the enemy. In preparing 
meals, the smoke from the kitchen was always a great drawing 
card for shells. 

On the night of the 25th one enemy shell landed in an old 
barn in Waddonville which contained a small pile of hay and 
some old rags. This shell set the building on fire and caused the 
entire section to be lighted up. It was put out after much diffi- 
culty, for the enemy who were now located in St. Hillaire continued 
to play machine-gun fire in the vicinity of the building. 

Early the morning of the 26th, First Battalion, 102d In- 
fantry, executed an attack in Marcheville on the left of Waddon- 
ville. This was used as a diversion for an attack to be made 
against the enemy at Verdun and was successful in having the 
enemy withdraw a number of his troops from the Verdun sector. 
Although a great number of casualties were caused in the 102d 
Infantry, the attack was declared a success. 

The night of September 30th, "K" and the rest of the Third 
Battalion moved from the Waddonville sector to the Bois de 
Ranziers near Vaux-les-Balemerais. This is in the Troyon Sec- 
tor, and remained here until October 7th. 

October 6th another raid was executed on the enemy. The 
great majority of this party were G Company boys from Wor- 
cester. It was a very successful party — forty-nine prisoners 
taken. 

October 6th, a delousing machine was secured after great 
effort made by Captain Foley. This was our first real bath in 
almost three months. After the bath, we were supplied with 
second-hand underwear. It was the first underwear issued to 
K Company since dune 3d. We now had come to the conclusion 
that those various letters of "Bill's" to his "Dere Mabel" were 
more than cornel when he said, "Some people say 'Cleanliness is 
next to Godliness,' hut I say it is next to impossible." Those are 
our sentiments. The socks worn by the boys wire w r orn every 
day and night for more than a month and the soles became as 



1 1 st INF AN TRY 123 

hard as boards and often cracked in two while being removed 
from the feet. 

October 7th, L6.30 o'clock, the entire battalion moved from 
the Bois de Ranziers and partook of our favorite pastime, "hik- 
ing." After covering thirteen kilometers, we reached the Town 
of Douai on the Meuse. 

One of the greatest proofs of the loyalty of the men for their 
buddies and their own outfits was shown by the lads who were 
wounded or taken sick and then sent to hospitals. These men as 
soon as their strength would allow always requested the doctors 
to send them back to their own outfit, so that they could once 
more assist in upholding the great name of their Company, Regi- 
ment, and Division. This request was refused in nearly every 
case, but a mere refusal meant nothing in the lives of these lads, 
SO at the very first opportunity they left their bed and hoard at 
the hospital, went A. \Y. (). L. (Absent Without Leave) and 
started back to their own outfit in the lines. It was a common 
occurrence to hav the men report hack from the hospitals and 
later find that they left of their own accord and evaded the 
AT. P.'s (Military Police) in each town, village, or city until they 
reached home, as they always called it. This was the spirit that 
carried the American boys on to the great things they accom- 
plished. 

On the 8th, Major Foley was evacuated to the hospital under 
orders of the regimental surgeon. This order was carried out 
much against the wishes of the Major, for he certainly did not 
want to leave his men, notwithstanding the great suffering which 
he had been enduring for the past six months. 

('apt. Roberl Hayes, being Senior Officer of the Battalion, was 
assigned as Battalion Commander. 

The night of the 8th, "K" left Douai, and after a nine-kilo- 
meter hike the City of Verdun was reached. As we marched 
through the gates of the city and passed the ruined and demolished 
houses, all that we had read in our American papers before going 
to France of the terrible fighting and suffering in the early part 
of the war at Verdun was recalled to mind. We were now in a 
sacred city where more lives had been losl in battle than any other 
spot on the ent ; re Western front, and where the French had done 



124 DEAR OLD "K" 

such wonderful fighting and succeeded in carrying out their great 
motto, "Ora ne passe pas" (They shall not pass). We were bil- 
leted in the city in what was once a famous artillery camp known 
as the Foubourg Pava. 

During our stop in this city the boys visited the different 
sections which were of historical interest, the ruined Cathedral, 
the Citadel (underground city), and great forts. 

The Citadel, or underground city, was capable of accommo- 
dating 25,000 people, so we were told. All the modern conven- 
iences of a city could be found there, even to a very complete 
narrow-gauge railroad line. 

While in this city, members of the 3d Pioneers (former 5th 
Mass.), now stationed nearby, visited our Regiment. 

During the stay in Verdun, the enemy continued to shell, 
which had been their usual custom. On one occasion two shells 
in close succession passed directly through the roof of the bar- 
rack in which "K" was billeted and exploded in the yard outside. 
Several casualties were caused by shells exploding close to our 
barracks and shell fragments going through the doors and win- 
dows, etc. 

October 14th was the first day in four years that the French 
could remember of not having a single shell fall in the city. 

It was wonderful to find such a splendid esprit de corps in 
our Company and the entire Division. If you asked any man in 
the 26th Division which was the very best Division in the Ameri- 
can Army, you would receive a very speedy and absolute reply — 
the 26th. 

This showed that the esprit de corps which was necessary for 
the best morale was imbued in every man in our truly wonderful 
Division. If you asked any man in the entire A. E. F. which was 
the leading Division, he would in almost every case mention the 
Division to which he himself belonged, but invariably grant that 
next best to his was the 26th. Such a test was tried out and nine 
out of every ten men granted the 26th the second position to his 
outfit. This was a great compliment. The pride of division and 
regiment started to display itself more markedly about October, 
1918, and each organization adopted a certain distinguishing 
insignia which would mark it from the rest. 

General Edwards sent out an order requesting suggestions for 



1 01 st INFANTRY 125 

an insignia that would be deserving of the 26th. Many replies 
were made by the men. The selection was a difficult problem. 
On the arrival of the 26th in France, it being one of the first three 
and the first complete Division to reach France, the French people 
exclaimed, "the Yankees are here." The term "Yankee" has so 
often been affixed to all New Englanders, and inasmuch as the 
20th was an entire New England Division, the name suggested 
itself, and our headquarters chose the title, "Yankee Division." 
Then, in order to make a suitable design for the shoulder marking, 
the letters of the two words were formed together y% ; and in 
every ease where you find a man who won his YD, whether he 
came as a replacement from California, Texas, Kansas, or even 
the Southern States, you will find a loyal booster of the Yankee 
Division (26th) and a fighting Y r ankee. 

One of the greatest mysteries of the war was the successful 
manner in which traffic was regulated over the roads leading to 
the front lines. In the darkest, inky-like night, as the troops 
were marching up to the front to relieve the troops holding the 
line, they marched along the right-hand edge of the roads. These 
roads were not very wide; at the same time a line of troops were 
marching toward the rear from some other sector; passing these 
two lines were large three and five-ton trucks carrying ammunition 
and supplies ; darting in and out among these trucks were ambu- 
lances rushing madly with their packs of suffering doughboys to 
a dressing station in the rear. All this passing on at the same 
time over shell-torn roads, and in many places while shells were 
landing on various sections of the roads in the near vicinity, and 
not a single light of any kind could be used. It was like a weird 
picture of so many ghosts passing over a haunted road. As the 
trucks rushed along there were many near-collisions, but the num- 
ber of smash-ups was very, very small. The drivers of these 
trucks, and especially the ambulance drivers, are deserving of an 
unlimited amount of praise. They were artists in their line and 
heroes of the first class. 

On the evening of October 17th we left Foubourg Pava and 
marched to the advance lines. Here we acted as support. Our 
position now left us on the side of the hill in a ravine near "Death 
Valley." Our dug-outs consisted of shell holes, there being abso- 
lutely no protection, and the enemy shelled this area continually. 



126 DEAR OLD "K" 

The boys borrowed picks and shovels and dug fox holes and 
covered these over with blankets, giving some slight protection 
from the rain, but none from shell fire. 

On the night of October 19th there was a very heavy rain, 
and on waking up after a short sleep, most of the boys found 
themselves lying in a pool of water; but what harm is there in 
lying in water ! This had become second nature. 

On the night of October 21st, after reconnoitering the front 
line position in anticipation of an attack which was to start on 
the 22d, we received orders that the attack would be postponed 
until further orders. Late in the afternoon of the 22d word was 
received that we were to move forward to the Bois-de-Warville, 
and prepare for the attack which was to take place early on the 
morning of the 23d. After passing through Death Valley, through 
two ravines and up one steep hill which was covered with deep 
mud, we reached the jumping-off point in the Bois-de-Warville. 

In going through these ravines and over the hills, we found 
skeletons and human bones all around. This locality had been 
fought over a number of times, and terrible tolls of life were ex- 
acted from each side. It was hard to realize that so many poor 
souls had been crushed by the iron hand of the War God. 

At about 2 o'clock on the morning of the 23d, all units had 
been assigned their positions, as follows : the First Battalion to 
advance from the left; the Third Battalion as an assaulting bat- 
talion on the right ; and the Second Battalion as support of the 
Third Battalion. K and L Companies were the assaulting com- 
panies of the Third Battalion. Movement was to be executed 
starting from left to right. On the First Battalion reaching the 
first objective, a rocket was to be sent up which would be the 
signal for the movement of the Third Battalion to start. The 
Third Battalion would then advance from the woods down through 
the ravine (Death Valley) and up the opposite hill. Our artillery 
was to start at 5.30 and to continue to bombard the enemy lines 
until 8 o'clock. At 5.30 sharp our artillery opened on the enemy. 
The enemy, being aware of our position, opened his artillery 
directly on our men at 5.32, and continued a deadly bombard- 
ment for several hours. Owing to the heavy shelling, it was im- 
possible to see the rocket which was sent up by the First Bat- 



1 1 st INF AN TRY 127 

talion on their having reached the first objective. So, after wait- 
ing about an hour, a consultation of all battalion officers was held. 
On talking the situation over very hurriedly and deciding that 
the advance would be started regardless of the rocket, Captain 
Hayes suggested that we had better disperse quickly, for should 
a shell land in that vicinity, there would be danger of the battalion 
losing all its officers. Following his advice, the officers started to 
separate and return to their respective units. All left except Cap- 
tain Hayes and Lieut. John Riley. Less than one-half minute 
after the warning of Captain Hayes, a shell landed within ten 
yards of this spot, and Captain Hayes and Lieutenant Riley were 
badly wounded, Lieutenant Riley being hit in the right shoulder, 
right hip, left leg, and left arm ; Captain Hayes's body being torn 
in several places by fragments of the shell. Lieutenant Brickley 
and several First Aid men bandaged Lieutenant Riley and Cap- 
tain Hayes, and gave them First Aid treatment. We then se- 
cured stretcher bearers and one stretcher for Captain Hayes. As 
he was being carried out, resting upon one arm on the stretcher, 
he said, "Jim, take care of things." I told him to be cheerful 
and everything would be all right. He had not gone fifty meters 
when another shell landed close by and knocked him off the 
stretcher and killed three of his stretcher bearers. He died the 
following day. 

An improvised stretcher made from two limbs of a tree and a 
half-shelter tent carried Lieutenant Riley to the rear. By 10 
o'clock this morning not more than one-third of the troops which 
had entered the woods remained, the rest having become casualties. 

On the wounding and evacuation of Captain Hayes, Captain 
Schoonmaker, who was commanding K Company, took command 
of the battalion. Immediately upon his taking command, a short 
meeting of officers was held and it was decided to move forward 
at once. 

Lieut. Roland Dodge, of M Company, with ten sharpshooters 
and automatic riflemen, were assigned as scouts to proceed ahead 
of the assaulting company. The advance was started at 10.80, 
and very little opposition was met. The first objective was reached 
at 11.30, the second objective was reached at 1.30, and still oppo- 



128 DEAR OLD "K" 

sition was very Light. We then proceeded to the third objective, 
and to reach this it was necessary to pass over a. large open space 
with woods on the right, left, and front. Directly in the center of 
this opening was a Large pillbox. It was at this point that Mickey 
Perkins (.Michael J.) performed such gallant service for which 
he was later awarded the Congressional Medal, lie advanced 

toward the pillbox, which was built of concrete and iron, and 

attempted to pass in the door, birl tins was impossible. At in- 
tervals the Boche would heave grenades from within. During the 
opening of the door to throw these grenades out, Mickey would 
throw one of his grenades in. After several minutes of this, 
Mickey pushed the door open, threw in a grenade and followed 
it in. With his trench knife in one hand and a grenade in the 
other, he marched ahout, twenty-five Boche ou1 of the pillbox and 

to the rear as prisoners. There were also a number of dead 

found in the pillbox as the result of this struggle. Mickey thus, 

single handed, captured the pillbox and silenced the seven ma- 
chine-guns. Mickey was a member of Company 1), of our Regi- 
ment. It' was slightly wounded and while being taken to the 
rear in an ambulance a stray shell hit the ambulance, killing him 
and six others. 

The final objective was reached about 15.45 o'clock (3.45 
e. w.). L Company was now holding the left forward position 
and K Company the right forward position of the battalion, the 

First Battalion being Located on the left flank; the 102d Infantry 
on the right flank, the 1 02d being Located on the side of the great, 
slope and in the ravine. This position was held with great diffi- 
culty during the night of the 23d. About 1 o'clock, the morning 
of the 'J lib, the Germans launched a counter attack against the 
right flank of "K," without success. Between 1 o'clock and S 
o'clock four counter attacks had been launched by the enemy, 
first on the right Hank, then on the left flank, then in the center; 
but all without success. 

During the day it was very difficult to move about in our pres- 
ent position, tor it seemed that German snipers were located 
everywhere about. In the woods on the right in front of "K" 
was later found, in one tree, three machine-gun platforms. This 
was one of the difficulties which had to be overcome in this sector. 





— " 5 C 



7- 2. „ 7 





During all long hikes ton-minute rests were given every 
hour. This picture shows how the boys rested. Theorder 
of business was to strip and banish the ever-present pests. 




A detail from K Company under Lieutenant Duane put- 
ting up barbed -wire reinforcements in Hemiere Woods two 
ih\ s after German attack on Seicheprey. 

The Boehe left the woods filled with death traps. 



101st INFANTRY 129 

There was a deep slope in front of our present position, and here 
the Bochc had placed a large number of minnenwerfers. 

Late in the morning of the 24th the Germans launched another 
counter attack in two places and were successful in forcing their 
way through a space between the right of the 101st and the left 
of the 102d Infantry. They then worked their way to the rear of 
K Company. It was then necessary to fight desperately even to 
withdraw. A large number of casualties occurred during this 
fight. It was now compulsory to withdraw the right flank of our 
line about fifty meters to the rear. At 15.15 o'clock (3.15 
p. m.) the attack was resumed, our artillery falling on the enemy 
five minutes earlier, and we advanced at the hour mentioned above. 
The first shells of our artillery (155 mm.) fell directly into our 
own lines, and a number of casualties were caused by this. 
It is a very discouraging sensation, although it cannot always be 
helped, to have one's own artillery falling short. One expects and 
does not complain on the arrival of enemy shells, but it is a weird 
sensation dodging shells coming from both directions, the enemy's 
and your own. 

One very sad incident which occurred at this time was that 
of Sergeant Sullivan who, I believe, was a member of A Company, 
of our Regiment, who on the night of October 23d received a com- 
mission of Second Lieutenant. This was his first day in command 
of a platoon, and the very first shell which landed caused his death ; 
no further trace was ever found of him. 

Of course it is conceded that the real dirty work in war is 
done by the Infantry. The infantry has been nicknamed "dough- 
boys." "cannon fodder," "trench rats," etc., but I think one good 
title, and a very appropriate one, is "muck worms," because they 
live in muck and mud most of the time. It, is true that the 
infantry meets the enemy face to face with his liquid fire, bayonets, 
and trench knives and fights bayonet to bayonet, wearing his gas 
mask and carrying on his back ninety-six pounds of Government 
property. But all the credit for the battle must not be given to 
or taken by the infantry. The supporting artillery, who cover 
the enemy rear lines while the doughboys advance, who counter 
battery the enemy artillery and to a certain extent make the 
advance a bit safer, deserve a great deal of the credit for each 



130 DEAR OLD "K" 

victory. It is a wonderful feeling for a doughboy to be advancing 
and to feel that his artillery will give him good support. The 
fact that the infantry of our Division (26th) had such perfect 
faith in our own artillery is proof positive that the division artil- 
lery w r as a cracker-jack outfit. It is true that on several occasions 
the shells fell short and directly onto our own lines, but this 
occurred most with the heavy guns (155mm.) and was caused by 
the great variance in the type and grade of powder used, no op- 
portunity being given the gunners to register their shots. It was 
great to return from a raid or minor attack and to pass by the 
battery positions and see all the artillery men stripped to the 
waist and black with sweat and dirt from the exertion of trying 
to put over a good barrage and make things light for the men 
out in front. 

In talking about the heavy guns falling short, the 103d 
heavies, which were the greatest offenders to this cause, came to 
be called by the boys, "The Kaiser's Own." During the short 
breathing spell after the Chateau-Thierry fracas, the boys voted 
to make a deal by giving the Kaiser the whole set of guns of the 
103d Artillery in exchange for a few old rusty Austrian 88ths. 
This Austrian 88 was a quick-firing and rifle-like cannon, and it 
was a wicked toy to face. 

On the night of the 24th, Captain Schoonmaker, the beloved 
Commander of "K" and now Battalion Commander, was on the 
line with his men when a minnenwerfer or shell landed directly 
beside him, a piece of the fragment hitting him on the back of the 
head and seriously wounding him, from which wound he died be- 
fore daybreak. On learning of Schooney's (as he was familiarly 
called by his brother officers) being wounded, everything possible 
was done for his comfort. Many of the boys volunteered to carry 
him to the rear through the shell fire, but he was beyond assist- 
ance. On the afternoon of the 25th he was buried in a small 
improvised cemetery just back of the lines near Death Valley, a 
well-named locality, and many tears were shed by his men. 

As soon as Captain Schoonmaker was wounded, the duty of 
Battalion Commander rested on me. I was, therefore, the third 
Battalion Commander in less than forty-eight hours. 

The afternoon of the 24th, on the starting of the attack, the 



1 1 st I NF ANTR Y 131 

plan arranged was for the Second Battalion to pass through the 
Third Battalion and exploit Belieu Bois. This feat was accom- 
plished after much difficulty, and on the night of the 24th the 
advance lines were once more established, the Third Battalion 
advancing on the line of the Second Battalion, this leaving the 
First Battalion in support. 

The morning of the 25th the enemy once more counter- 
attacked, being successful in driving the center of our line slightly 
to the rear; but within a few minutes our men counter-attacked 
and reestablished the line. 

Between the 24th and 26th, this position was lost and retaken 
four times. This meant continual hand-to-hand fighting with 
bayonets, trench knives, and grenades. 

When machine-gun fire was sweeping our front and it was 
difficult to discover their location, a familiar trick of the boys 
was to have several fellows crawl to different locations ; at inter- 
vals they would expose themselves and act as a target for the 
enemy machine-gunners to fire at, and in this way the locations 
were found and later cleaned out. 

Late on the afternoon of the 25th, the Second and Third 
Battalions having suffered such great losses, thereby reducing 
their ranks, they were consolidated as one battalion. I was then 
placed in command of the Consolidated (Second and Third) 
Battalion. 

During the evening of the 26th the Consolidated Battalion 
was relieved by the First Battalion, Consolidated Battalion then 
occupying the support position. During this engagement, Lieut. 
Edward Price was in command of "K." 

Lieut. Leo A. Adams, also of "K," was designated as Regi- 
mental Material and Ration Officer. It was his duty to see that 
the necessary ammunition and material and also meals were got- 
ten to the men in the front lines. This he accomplished in a 
splendid manner. Lieutenant Adams is the only officer that went 
across with "K" that remained and returned with the same com- 
pany, he being promoted to rank of First Lieutenant. 

On the afternoon of the 26th an order was issued that the 
Regimental Commander and Battalion Commanders of our Regi- 
ment report back to Brigade Headquarters. Colonel Logan, 



132 DEAR OLD "K" 

Lieut. Col. John Greenway, Major William J. McCarthy, of the 
First Battalion, and myself in command of the Consolidated Bat- 
talion, with Captain Krause, second in command, proceeded to 
Brigade Headquarters. Covering a distance of about five kilo- 
meters and passing through two ravines which were being shelled 
with gas, we reached Headquarters. The following is a rough 
sketch of what took place at the meeting. While awaiting the 
arrival from the rear of Brig. Gen. George H. Shelton, a motor- 
cycle courier arrived. He handed an envelope to Colonel Logan, 
and one to Lieut. Colonel Greenway. The General then arrived. 
He requested information as to the number of men in each one of 
the battalions of the 102d. He then requested information as to 
the number of men in the First Battalion, 101st Infantry. Major 
McCarthy reported 464 men, 6 officers. I reported for Con- 
solidated Battalions, 539 men and 4 officers. The General said, 
"Colonel Logan, you will advance with your regiment at daybreak 
tomorrow." 

Colonel Logan replied: "I am sorry, General, but I have just 
been relieved of my regiment. Colonel Greenway is in command." 
This was our first information of the contents of the two letters, 
and that our beloved Colonel was to be taken away. 

The General (Shelton), in slow and solemn voice, then added: 
"Colonel Greenway and gentlemen: At daybreak, tomorrow (the 
27th), the 101st Infantry will attack, they to take the Belieu 
Bois entire and the crest of the hill overlooking the plain. The 
army has decreed this and New England demands it even to the 
last drop of your blood. This must be accomplished. That is 
all, gentlemen. Good-day and good-luck." — The hill was taken. 

Immediately upon his notification of being assigned to the 
men of the 101st, Lieut. Colonel Greenway, who was a man of 
large heart and much good judgment, also beyond words in 
bravery, informed the General that the 101st Infantry should be 
relieved immediately, as the men were now working without phys- 
ical strength, being carried along simply on their nerves. This 
could not be continued much longer. 

With very sad hearts our detail of officers returned to Regi- 
mental Headquarters at the front. A more down-hearted man 
than Colonel Logan could not be imagined, for he was now being 



101st INFANTRY 133 

taken away from an organization which he loved and which loved 
him and would have gone to any extreme for him, as they felt 
that their interests were always being guarded and fought for by 
Colonel Logan, and the removal was just one more army political 
move to eradicate the National Guard officers of the combat divi- 
sions in order that regular army officers might be in at the end 
of activities and gain honor and promotion. It was a bare-faced, 
raw deal. 

On our arrival at Headquarters, maps were distributed, plans 
gone over, and all arrangements made for the attack of the 27th. 
News of the Colonel's relief was kept from the men, it being de- 
cided that no information of this would be let out until after the 
relief of the regiment. At about 22 o'clock, the officers went 
among the men of the Consolidated Battalion and told them to 
secure all the rest possible while the shelling had diminished. The 
one question of the men was, "When are we to be relieved?" 

About 5 o'clock the morning of the 27th, word was passed 
to the men that the show would be on at daybreak. This we 
figured would be between 6.40 and 6.45 o'clock. All instructions 
were distributed. All men were told to prepare, as the curtain 
would rise at 6.45. I then returned to the Battalion P. C. and 
awaited further orders in the event that any should arrive. At 
5.20 I returned to the side of the hill on which Consolidated Bat- 
talion was located. As I approached, I heard hushed voices. I 
proceeded in the direction from which these voices were coming. 
On my arrival I found one little corporal in a shell hole reciting 
the "Rosary" with a group of men kneeling in and around the 
shell hole answering him. Among the group were a number of 
Protestant boys. One was a chap named Clark, of L Company, 
who was sitting on the edge of the shell hole, and I noticed that he 
was crying. At the completion of the prayers, he said, "I am 
a Protestant, but I enjoyed that prayer so much, and it made me 
think of home and my mother." This was a splendid spirit, and 
mothers of men who would act like that going into battle need 
have no fear for the welfare of their boys. Twenty minutes later, 
bayonets had been adjusted and the attack started, and a number 
of those boys who had joined that "Rosary" were lying dead or 
wounded in the woods. 



134 DEAR OLD "K" 

After the attack a message was sent by Major McCarthy to 
Headquarters, saying: "We have taken all objectives. If you 
want to retain these, relieve our men with fresh troops or send 
reinforcements." A message was received in reply from Colonel 
Greenway saying: "Relief is promised not later than tomorrow. 
The hill must be held until relieved.*' 

On the night of the 28th the First Battalion, 104th Infantry, 
was sent forward to relieve our First Battalion. Later the 103d 
Machine-Gun Battalion reinforced the First Battalion, 103d In- 
fantry, and thus our entire Regiment was relieved. 

In entering the attack on the morning of the 23d, we had 
approximately GOO men in each one of the battalions. I was now 
taking out the Consolidated (Second and Third) Battalion, and 
had a total of 258 men and three officers left in these two 
battalions. 

One interesting fact we later learned about this present fight 
was that five German divisions were opposite the sector being 
held by the 101st and 102d Regiments. This was very interesting 
when one considers that we had less than TOO men, with no troops 
in support, facing about two divisions of the enemy. If they had 
really known the situation, nothing could have prevented them 
from advancing through to our artillery positions. Thus it was 
the nerve and the bravery of a handful of men on the American 
side against large numbers of men and material on the Boche, with 
American pluck and nerve winning out. 

During one of the enemy counter attacks on the 25th, both 
lines being very close together, the commands of the German 
officers or under-officers could be heard plainly. One group from 
"K," among whom were Tom Mayberry and George Schobert, 
were within a very few yards of the spot from which these com- 
mands were being issued. Schobert, being of German descent, 
saw an opportunity to take advantage of his ability to speak 
German. So, when the commands to prepare for the attack were 
given, Schobert issued several commands in German which counter- 
acted the German officer's commands, and thus confused the groups 
about to attack in his location. The Germans starting to disperse 
afforded a lovely opportunity for our boys to open fire and caused 
a great number of casualties. One section of the enemy counter 



1 1 st I NF ANT R Y 135 

attack was broken up, for which credit might be given alone to 
Schobert. 

During an earlier counter attack, Mayberry and Schobert 
were in adjoining shell holes. A great deal of German equipment 
having been left around, a barricade was built of it in front of 
the shell hole. During this attack our lines were forced back a 
few yards. Mayberry continued to express his disgust at losing 
the position, for the reason that in a number of the German packs 
which he had used as the barricade were many pairs of socks, as 
each German always had an extra pair. Tom felt bad for the 
loss of the German socks. He thus commercialized and took ad- 
vantage of anything he was able to get his hands on. 

On the night of the 22d, prior to the start for the above 
attack, several of the boys had a premonition that some ill-luck 
was to fall to their lot. Three members of "K" suggested that 
this would probably be their last fight. An effort was made to 
discourage this feeling, but without success. It was suggested 
that they return to the kitchens and act as details for the time 
being, but this they refused to do, saying in each instance that if 
it was their lot they would take their medicine. Not one of these 
men knew of the feelings of the others. On the very first morning 
these three men and one other member of "K" were killed, they 
being George R. Wright, James Connelly, and Leo Ellery. Later 
during the fight Edward Howell was also killed. A great many 
other casualties occurred, and these names may be found in an- 
other section of this story. 

It is hard to let our minds wander back to those terrible days 
when so many of our boys were sacrificed. It is hard to realize 
that such fine lads must be called in such a way, but the way of 
the transgressor is hard. All these boys were heroes, and on many 
occasions when things wuvc dull and the silver lining of the clouds 
looked a long way off, Buddy (George) Wright and Pat (Leo) 
Ellery would put on one of their joy-making sketches and in a 
few minutes would have all in laughter. The happiest thoughts I 
have are when I think of those dear lads, and I know that I can 
boast of having been a pal of theirs and a member of the same 
company with them. 

One member of I Company, Buddis Whitney, was seriously 



136 DEAR OLD "K" 

wounded during a hand-to-hand engagement. His pal, Frank 
Gannon, remained to watch over him. Owing to the heavy fire, it 
was impossible to remove him from this place, so the pal remained. 

During the counter attack, Gannon engaged five Germans. 
His rifle was knocked out of his hand after he had killed two of 
the five. The last seen of him was in a fist engagement with the 
other three. Both of these boys were taken prisoners. 

To prove the efficiency of the German Intelligence Branch — 
when Gannon was taken prisoner and questioned at the German 
Intelligence Bureau, he was asked to what organization he be- 
longed, as was the custom when men were taken prisoner. No 
information was given. Each man would manufacture a story 
about being a replacement and not acquainted with the officers or 
the name of the organization with which he had been. In this 
case the German Intelligence Officer called the man a "Liar" and 
said that "as long as you will not tell us the name of your organ- 
ization, I will say that you are a member of the 101st Infantry." 
The German then asked if General Edwards was still with his 
Division. The young man pleaded ignorance as to General Ed- 
wards. The German officer then said, "General Edwards was re- 
lieved last week and your own Colonel, Colonel Logan, will be 
relieved in a few days." This proved to be the truth, although 
the fellow taken prisoner was not aware of the fact. 

In talking about prisoners and the system of the Intelligence 
Branch. The following is a translation of the German communi- 
cation issued to all its troops telling of the brutality accorded 
the Germans when taken prisoner. It will be noted that the in- 
structions this document is supposed to convey are that it is much 
better for a man to die fighting than to be captured. 

Ia/54182 

RULES FOR GUIDANCE OF GERMAN SOLDIERS 
TAKEN PRISONER 

British Doc.S.S. 737: Translation of a German document. 
Wytschaete Group, July, 1918. 

Section Ic. 

(Not to be taken into the Front Line.) 

(To be issued to the Rank and File by Companies for Perusal, then 
collected again and filed by Regimental Staffs for Occasional Reissue 
and Collection.) 



101st INFANTRY 137 

For a man to allow himself to be taken prisoner by the enemy 
without having defended himself to the utmost is a dishonorable act 
equivalent to treachery. 

Capture at the hands of our inhuman foes, in view of their 
unexampled brutality of treatment, which is now proved beyond 
question in so large a number of cases, merely means being slowly 
tortured to death. 

Should, however, a man be captured in spite of all his bravery and 
without its being his fault, even then the soldier still has sacred duties 
towards his comrades, towards his Commander-in-Chief to whom he 
took the oath of fealty, and towards his country. It is an easy duty 
for him to fulfill ; he has only to preserve in his captivity the same 
courage which he has so often shown in the face of the enemy. The 
first thing suggested to prisoners in the enemy's camp, after their 
confidence has been gained by stimulating drinks and the best of fare, 
is nothing less than the betrayal of their country. Afterwards, when 
the object is attained, follows the usual meager prisoners' fare and 
hard work, with the most brutal treatment. 

A prisoner is submitted to an examination in which by cleverly 
framed questions, insincere promises or even by threats of every kind, 
attempts are made to cause him to give away military secrets, such 
as the order of battle, the strength with which a front is held, inten- 
tions and plans for attack, measures for defense, concentrations or 
movements of troops, the exact condition of his own unit, strength of 
units, events taking place behind the front and in Germany, rest 
billets of his comrades, and other matters. 

It is regrettable that this war has provided many instances where 
the statements of a man WITHOUT HONOR, which unfortunately 
have often been only too accurate, have been proved to have had 
disastrous effects for his OWN COMRADES. How many brave 
soldiers have lost their lives through this cause? 

The success of our attacks and enterprises is also imperiled in 
this way and the successful issue of the war may thus be to a great 
extent jeopardized, and the whole Fatherland receive the gravest 
injury. 

It is just now, at the decisive point of the final struggle, that 
every soldier must feel more than ever the shame and infamy of such 
unprincipled conduct. 

Again and again do prisoners captured by US give confirmation 
of the fact that those German soldiers, no matter to which State they 
belong, who allow themselves to be pressed under examination into 
making all kinds of statements, in the idea that they will receive 
better treatment, have had afterwards a much harder time than those 
who refused to say anything. For even among our enemies the 
soldier who consciously betrays his country and puts his own comrades 
in danger ranks as a man without honor. 



138 DEAR OLD "K" 

ON THE OTHER HAND. EVEN THE ENEMY INVARI- 
ABLE RESPECTS THE GERMAN SOLDIER WHO REMAINS 
STEADFAST AND REFUSES TO MAKE STATEMENTS, 

EVEN IN THE LACK OF THREATS. OR BY A CLEVER 
ANSWER MAKES FROM THE START AEE ECRTHER QUES- 
TIONING USELESS. Thus, Private Wiegand, of the 3d Company. 
60th Infantry Regiment, who pleaded his soldier's oath and refused 
to make an) statements, received full recognition in the Armv Orders 
of the enemy.* 

It' questions arc asked about military or other dangerous subjects, 
there are many answers by which a man can escape further questions 
or at any rate parry them; for example: 

"Only joined the unit a few days ago as a reinforcement." 

".hist back from leave." 

"Have been sick in quarters, or have just come out of hospital a 
few days ago, and therefore have no information.'" 

•NOTE BY G. S. 1. ^British) — Further reference to the instance of 
Private Wiegand, mentioned in the above document, is contained in 
the following extract from an order issued by the Second German 
Army on April 16, 1918: 

"2. Amongst the documents captured from the enemy there is a 
report dated August 10, 1917, of the examination of Private- Wiegand, 
;<d Company. 60th Infantry Regiment. 121st Division, which, literally 
translated, runs as follows: 

'"The prisoner, a Roman Catholic, stated that on entering the 
German Armv he had taken an oath that, in the event oi being 
taken prisoner, he would give no information o( any kind what- 
soever which might endanger the safety of his comrades. HIS 
ATTITUDE COMMANDED RESPECT AND IS COM- 
PLETELY 1\ ACCORDANCE WITH THE BEST TRADI- 
TIONS OV MILITARY HONOR. As a matter of fact, no 
information of any kind could be obtained from the prisoner, who 
is 19 years oi age." 

'"This splendid example of soldierly conduct under imprisonment 
should be published to the troops, especially as several other records, 
also captured from the enemy, concerning the examination of German 
prisoners, contain precisely such statements (for example, as to 
billets for troops, battle headquarters, communication trenches, etc.) 
which are calculated to endanger the lives of comrades in a high 
degree. 

"In view of the above cited example, it should be continuously 
impressed upon troops that under examination only the name, and 
nothing further, need be given to the enemy, and that a prisoner who 
declines to make any further statement not only does not render his 
fate worse, hut. on the contrary, exacts respect from the enemy." 



101 st IN F ANT It Y 139 

"Was on special duty" (forestry, collieries, road construction, pro- 
duction of trench materials, etc.). 

"Accommodation under canvas in a wood, the name and exact. 
location of which I cannot give. Have seen no other troops beyond 
men of the detachment, or any artillery positions; liave seen no trans- 
port to or from batteries or single guns, or movements of troops." 

If further questions are asked, always repeal the same answers: 
"I was not there"; "I do not know"; "Am not acquainted with the 
sector"; "Do not know the flanking units"; "Have seen no artillery, 
as visiting artillery positions is strictly forbidden"; "Do not know 

the positions of sentries or machine-guns or their numbers"; "Know 
of no plans for attack"; "Know nothing of the relief of the Division"; 
"Do not know the lines of approach to and departure from the posi- 
tion, as I went in at night"; "No work of any consequence in progress 
in the trenches or behind the front"; "Trenches, rations, and 

MORALE good." 

It is naturally no less important to he circumspect in conversation 
with countrymen or fellow-prisoners in the camp hater on, and not to 
tell I hem the OPPOSITE story to that told shortly before at the 
cross examination. 

Never forget that a prisoner is subject to continual observation 
and eavesdropping. In many cases he is pumped without being 
aware of the fact by eonfidential agents (his own countrymen, who 
have taken on themselves this despicable role), Further, IT IS OF 
TDK GREATEST IMPORTANCE that every soldier should burn 
all letters and other written communications immediately after he 
has read them; by so doing he renders a great service to himself and 
to his country. Should he have any special interest in these letters, 
he can send them home again or tie them up in a parcel and hand 
them in to the company orderly room, which provides for their safe 
keeping. 

It will thus be impossible for the enemy to receive or confirm any 
information by means of letters, notebooks, or, more particularly, 
diaries and address hooks. 

Even long after capture, in the prisoners-of-war camp behind the 
front or in the labor camp, there are still dangers of many kinds 
which threaten the unwary man. SEEMING comrades come up to 
him confidentially and induce him to relate his recent experiences and 
ply him with questions; these men are naturally acting under the 
enemy's orders according to precise instructions. The seeming com- 
rades are simply members of the enemy forces who speak good Ger- 
man and are put into German uniform (often even in German officer's 
uniform). Therefore use the greatest caution in conversation; if 
you have no previous knowledge of the man in question, give him no 
information about military affairs, say nothing about home circum- 
stances, and tell him none of your experiences ; your lot will not he 
improved by doing so. 



140 DEAR OLD "K" 

Beware of the so-called non-commissioned officers of the camp, 
or of quartermasters and such men, apparently Germans, as are respon- 
sible for your comfort in camp, and receive complaints and requests. 

When talking in camp, dormitory, or mess-room, speak only in a 
low voice, FOR WALLS HAVE EARS. Everywhere an apparatus 
is installed by which every word is heard even through the thickest 
walls, and is written down and afterwards turned to account. In a 
word, even a prisoner must forget that he is a German and that even 
he can still bear his part in helping to win victory over the enemy. 

A WARNING IN CONCLUSION 

Our enemies, in their examinations of prisoners, usually record 
the name of the man examined; even where this is not the case, we 
on our side can always ascertain from the records of the platoon, 
company, and regiment, together with the date, hour, and place of 
capture, who the prisoner was who made the statement in question. 
If such an examination, containing matter damaging to us, falls into 
our hands, criminal proceedings will invariably be instituted against 
the man who has forgotten duty and honor; this entails in the first 
instance great unpleasantness of his relatives (parents, brothers, sis- 
ters, wife, and child), and apart from this, after the war, the heaviest 
penalties for himself. There is no question of a remission of punish- 
ment or amnesty for such traitors, any more than for deserters. They 
and their names are branded, their home and property lost forever. 
(Translation ends.) 

As I said in the early part of this story, Mess Sergeant Reddy, 
with his cooks and K. P.'s, and Mechanics George H. O'Malley 
and Timmy (Thomas) Wallace were always on the job and made 
every effort to bring meals to the "K" men during each engage 
ment. 

On the afternoon of the 26th, Sergeant Reddy and his detail 
were driving a one-mule cart, containing rations, over the road 
in the face of a heavy enemy shelling through Death Valley. 
They had another mule tied in the rear of the cart for emergency. 
While walking alongside of the cart and passing through the 
enemy shell fire, the extra mule kicked a grenade, which was lying 
in the middle of the road. The grenade exploded and wounded 
several of the detail, but the mule was not wounded at all. It 
was during this shelling that James F. Bruce was killed and a 
piece of shell passed through the cheek and jaw of William Kelli- 
her, seriously wounding him. 



1 1 st I NF AN TRY 141 

Early in the morning of the 29th, on being relieved from the 
Belieu Bois, we marched to the rear and took up a position in 
the support line almost in the same place in which we were located 
prior to the attack of the 23d. 

On the morning of November 1st, Col. PI. P. Hobbs, former 
Division Inspector, was assigned to the 101st Infantry as com- 
manding officer. 

On the night of November 2d, a reconnoitcring party was scut 
forward to a position five kilometers to the right of Belieu Bois. 
This sector was known as "Joli Coeur." During our three days' 
stay in this present position, men were reequipped and a number of 
men returned from the hospitals and special duty, thus increasing 
the strength of the companies. 

On the night of November 2d, I being in command of the Third 
Battalion, of which "K" was a part, proceeded with the battalion 
to the new position (Joli Coeur), relieving the 26th French In- 
fantry. The Second Battalion, in command of Major Albert 
Gray, was in support, and the First Battalion, with Major Mc- 
Carthy, in reserve. On the taking over of the Joli Coeur sector, 
instructions were given that things were to be kept very quiet. 
No more activity to be caused unless absolutely necessary. 

On the hike over the hills to our new position, we passed across 
the famous C6te-de-Pave (Hill of Pepper), made famous by the 
hot fighting in 1916. On the side of the hill was a cemetery, 
where the bodies of thousands of French soldiers killed in defend- 
ing this section during the terrific fighting were buried. In nearly 
every battle that "K" participated in, the start was made through 
a cemetery. This was true at Vaux, Chateau-Thierry, St. Mihiel, 
and several places in the final battle at Verdun. 

When rumors of relief were sent to us while serving in the 
front lines, the usual suggestion was made that we were to go to 
a "quiet sector." After several such rumors, our boys decided 
that the cemeteries were the only quiet sectors in France. They 
were thus named "Quiet Sectors." 

On November 3d, a communication was received from Division 
Headquarters, stating that the French Commanding General de- 
sired that the names of men who had distinguished themselves 
during our recent operations be recommended, as he was anxious 



142 



DEAR OLD "K" 



to confer French decorations upon them. The names of many 
members of "K" were submitted, but with the same result as on 
previous occasions. Many of the officers and men earned decora- 
tions many times, but did not receive them. It was just a question 
of luck as to those who received the decorations, for if the one 
who witnessed the performance was not able to draw a flaring pic- 
ture of the deed, the man being recommended was in poor luck. 

The following is a message which was sent from battalion head- 
quarters to K Company, as well as to the other companies of the 
battalion : 



U. S. ARMY FIELD MESSAGE 



TIME FILED 



SENT BY TIME RECEIVED BY ' TIME 
— THESE SPACES FOR SIGNAL OPERATORS ONLY 



"From: Jackdaw C-l 



At: 


P. C. 








Date: 


Nov. 3/18. 


Hour — 21.05- 


-No. 15 


HOW SENT 

Runner 


To: 


Price— K 









"The good news just reached me that the armistice with Austria 
goes into effect tonight. Terms will be published Tuesday. Tell 
the men. 

Still keep your eyes opened on those other birds and see what he 
is doing." 

"Duane." 



On the night of November 3d, K Company furnished a com- 
bat patrol to reconnoiter the enemy position on our front. The 
following is the order issued for the patrol, which contained 
another bit of good news : 



101st INFANTRY 143 

U. S. ARMY FIELD MESSAGE 



TIME FILED 



TIME RECEIVED BY 



THESE SPACES FOR SIGNAL OPERATORS ONLY 



"From: Jackdaw C-l 



At: 


P. C. Gilbody 










Date: 


1th Nov. 18 Hour: 


4.40 


No. 


26 


Runner 


To: 


Price 











"We are sending out some souvenir hunters at 11.30 tonight from 
Renegals poaching grounds. Notify your groups. 

The Reichstag is meeting today and hope they get drunk as — * — 
and come through with the goods. 

Have the company set so we can move on a moment's notice if 
ordered." 

"Duane." 

On the night of November 5th, orders were issued that an- 
other patrol would be sent out. This patrol was under the leader- 
ship of Sgt. Eugene McSweeney, of K Company. The following 
is information sent to the various groups and companies on the 
line warning them of the presence on their front of this patrol. 
All messages are in code: 

U. S. ARMY FIELD MESSAGE 



TIME FILED NO. SENT BY ! TIME RECEIVED BY 



THESE SPACES FOR SIGNAL OPERATORS ONLY 



"From: Jackdaw C-l 



At: 


P. C. Gilbody 








Date: 


5 Nov. 18 Hour: 


12 — 


No. 21 


Runner 


To: 


Adams 









"The A. 0. H. will have an excursion to Schitzen Grove tonight. 
The train leaves in front of your station at 23 o'clock. 
You will allow the merry youths to take two of those new type toys. 
Notify all your groups." 

"Duane." 

About the time the patrol was ready to proceed, word was 
received that the patrol be stopped and a raid executed in its 



144 DEAR OLD "K" 

stead. When a patrol of this kind or a raiding party is to go out, 
word is sent to all the adjoining posts and companies, so that no 
mistake will be made, and they will not be fired upon from our own 
lines. In sending these messages, code, of course, is the only 
safe means. I always believed in adding a bit of humor when it 
was possible, for life itself, in the trenches, is gloomy enough, so 
the above is a sample of one message which I sent, notifying 
Lieutenant Adams, who was then in command of M Company, 
that a patrol was to go out. 

The new type toys referred to in the above message was short 
sawed-off shot-guns. These we were now using for the first time 
and we found them lovely toys, especially against enemy snipers. 

On the night of November 5th, an order was received from 
Regimental Headquarters about 20 o'clock (6 o'clock) stating 
that our battalion was to execute a raid witli a view of taking 
prisoners. Colonel Hobbs, with the French liaison officer, visited 
the P. C. (Post of Command). The Colonel suggested several 
plans and then left orders to draw my own plan. The raid was 
executed at daybreak the morning of the 6th, the raiding party 
returning with two prisoners, both members of the Prussian 
Guard. Much information was secured from them. The follow- 
ing is the report made of the raid. It will be noted that every 
minor detail must be given : 

U. S. ARMY FIELD MESSAGE 



TIME FILED 



RECEIVED BY 



-THESE SPACES FOR SIGNAL OPERATORS ONLY 



'From: Jackdaw C-l Map 1/10,000 



At: 


P. C. Gilbody Samagnaux (Verdun) (Ornes) 


Date: 


6 Nov. 18 Hour 10.15 No. 401 Runner 


To: 


Jackdaw 6 — 



'Report of raid 5-6 Nov. 1918. 
Mission — To capture prisoners. 
Personnel — 1 officer — 4 X. C. 0. — 21 Privates. 
Assisted by artillery and M. G. barrage. 

Point of operation — Enemy line just north of point No. 329, 
penetrating 1st line (Joli Cceur) and 2d line (Saublet Tr.). 
H hour — 5.45. 



2. » « S- a- | 

2 2. 2. rr « S 

ffi a n : ' 



~ M rt — 





i$$H 



| 




5!rt » 

d S - 

3 r- O 




ad loo 
>bserv 

s engi 


ks like after a shelling, 
tition balloon up in the re 
neers repair the road. 




•* 


Jg& 


% 


^ .'• 




Our best wishes always accompanied each slid 



K33 








< 



It was iii tliis section that the American Marines made 
their great stand and this woods was later named after the 

Marines. 

Note shell holes. They're small, hut plenty of them. 







r^^^W--^53 






- ?*55m 


•3 
G>i A«AtU.- 







Gas Attack — The gas is just being released from cj linders 
in enemy front line 



101st INFANTRY 145 

Our party, in command of Lieut. William O'Shea, proceeded at 
5.20 to point of departure 30;58;77, having to pass through an enemy 
barrage to reach this point. 

At H hour (5.45) our party was all set, having taken up a position 
on crest of hill and waiting tor barrage to open. At exactly 5.45 our 
artillery and M. G.'s opened up and entire parly jumped off, rushing 
toward enemy first line (Joli Coeur). Not having met any opposition, 
they went along road north to road line (Saublet Tr.), Lieutenant 
O'Shea being in advance about fifty meters, reconnoitering ground. 
Party proceeded to point just in rear of Saublet Tr. when one of our 
party discovered an outpost slightly to the righl of the road. Two 
enemy members of the 96th Prussian Guard Infantry who were acting 
as outpost were taken prisoners here, and party made their return 
to our lines. 

Every man of our party returned. No one injured. (No casual- 
ties.) 

On notification from runner of return of party we sent up barrage 
Signal, calling for normal barrage to cover, or prevent any counter 
attack by the enemy. 

Party started at 5.45 — Our barrage signal was sent up at 5.55, 
making it a ten-minute action. Our normal barrage fell at 6 and fire 
stopped at 6.02^4. 

The only opposition met was from a M. G. located at point about 
at junction of crossroads north of 829. Enemy artillery retaliated 
very slightly, and only a light bombardment of gas, which landed 
in rear of our position. 

Condition of ground: Ground in bad shape, being covered with 
a great amount of barbed-wire and completely covered with very 
large shell holes. Terrain hard to work over. 

A patrol which was to be sent out previous to raiding party was 
called off by order of Jackdaw 1 at 10.15. 

Prisoners sent by runners from this P. ('. to Regt. P. C. at 7.05 
o'clock." 

"J. T. Duane, 

( 'apt. ( omdg. .3d Bn., 

101st Inf." 

The night of the 7th November, orders were issued for another 
raid with a view of taking- prisoners. This raid was executed, 
four prisoners being secured. We were mighty fortunate in both 
of these raids, as not a single American casualty occurred. This 
was a rare exception, and especially so in going into unknown 
territory, for when it is realized that a raid i> rarely ever exe- 
cuted without at least seven or eight days' preparation, one will 
appreciate the good fortune which was with our men. 



146 DEAR OLD "K" 

At last a ray of hope reached us, for the following message 
was received on the 7th, and was transmitted to each one of our 
companies. 

U. S. ARMY FIELD MESSAGE 



TIME FILED 



SENT BY TIME RECEIVED BY TIME 



- THESE SPACES FOR SIGNAL OPERATORS ONLY 



"From: Jackdaw C-l 



At: P. C. Gilbody 

HOW SENT 



Date: 7 Nov. 18 Hour 3 a.m. No. 58 Runner 

To: Radio picked up at three this morning 

If the German Plenipotentiaries desire to meet Marshal Foch to 
ask for Armistice, they will present themselves at the French Advance 
Post by the Roads Chimay-Fouriers , La Capelles-Guise. 

Orders will be given to receive and conduct them to the fixed 
meeting place." 

(Signed) Marshal Foch. 

"Duane," Comdg. Bn. 

Another message of good cheer was received on November 7th, 
in the form of orders stating that we were to be relieved. The 
following is the order: 

Hdqrs. 101st Infantry, 
P. C. Algerie, 
7 Nov., 1918. 
9.45 
FIELD ORDERS 
No. 47. 

1. In compliance with F. O. 44, Hq. 51st Inf. Brig., reliefs in 
the CENTER OF RESISTANCE JOLI COEUR will take place on 
the night of Nov. 8/9, 1918. 

(a) The 2d Bn. will relieve the 3d Bn. on the advance. 

(6) The 3d Bn. upon completion of relief will take over 
the present station of the 1st Bn., becoming the Brigade Reserve. 

(c) The 1st Bn. will take over the present station of the 2d 
Bn., becoming the Regt'l Reserve. 

2. Battalion Commanders will order the necessary reconnais- 
sance to be made on Nov. 7, 1918. 



101st INFANTRY 147 

3. The movement of troops will commence at 17 hour, Nov. 8. 

4. The reliefs will be completed before 4 hour, Nov. 9. 

5. The C. O. 3d Bn. will remain with the C. O. 2d Bn. for 24 
hours after the relief of the 3d Bn. 

6. 1 officer of the 2d Bn. will remain with the C. O. 1st Bn. 
for 24 hours after the relief of the 2d Bn. 

7. 1 non-commissioned officer for each company in all Bns. will 
remain with the corresponding relieving company for 24 hours after 
relief. 

8. Bn. Comdrs. will arrange for guides and for the details of 
relief. 

9. Dossiers, sector property, and all information concerning the 
situation and location will be turned over to relieving units. 

10. Sketches will be submitted to the Regt'l Comdr. not later 
than 8 o'clock on the morning of Nov. 9, showing exact location of 
all units and P. C.'s. 

11. The 1st Bn. will have their evening meal before commence- 
ment of relief. 

12. The 2d and 3d Bns. will have their evening meal after com- 
pletion of relief. 

13. Bn. Comdrs. will report by telephone to Regt'l Comdr. when 
relief is completed. The code word being "Boucq." 

By order of Colonel Hobbs : 
'EDWARD M. GUILD 
Operations Officer 
101st Inf. 
Copy to: C.G. 51st Inf. Brig. 
CO. 1st, 2d, 3d Bns. 
Supply Co. 
Surgeon 
Signal Officer 
File. 
Received 14.30 Nov. 7, 1918. 

But changes will occur even in the best of regulated organiza- 
tions. 

An order was issued from Regimental Headquarters request- 
ing that each battalion commander be given the opportunity of 
recommending five non-commissioned officers of his battalion for 
promotion to commission. In choosing five from the Third Bat- 
talion, I recommended Sgt. Martin H. O'Toole and Douglas Ross, 
both of K Company. Both men had well earned such an honor by 
their brave and fearless performance of duties in action. 



118 DEAR OLD "K" 

A report was called for as to the physical condition and 
general morale of the men of the Regiment. Following is the 
report submitted by me as to the condition of the men of the 
Third Battalion: 

"The general morale of the men of this battalion is not very high 
owing to fatigue, sickness, etc. The health of the men is very poor, 
the majority suffering from severe colds and influenza; and dysentery 
being very prevalent." 

This report was only in keeping with a report made by our 
present Commanding Officer, Colonel Hobbs, when he was Divi- 
sion Inspector. His report was submitted the latter part of 
October, to the effect that the general physical condition of the 
men of the 101st Infantry, owing to continued service, was very 
poor, and if relief was not effected in the very near future, there 
would likely be a general breakdown, both in physical condition 
and morale. 

Often I recalled the gentle hint given me by a French Major 
during our training in the Chemin des Dames sector, and often 
I was almost tempted to follow his plan. He said that as soon 
as an engagement starts, his first act is to cut the wires connect- 
ing his position with all the Headquarters in the rear, for he found 
out that the worst trouble he always encountered in battles was 
with his own Boche in the rear. There was more truth than 
poet ry in this, in all armies. 

About 11.50 o'clock (2.50 p. m.) I received a telephone call 
from Colonel Hobbs, informing me that, prisoners taken by the 
102d Infantry on the left gave the information that the enemy 
on our front was about to retire. He ordered one company 
go forward, and find out if this information was true. I 
chose K Company to execute this attack. I notified the Colonel 
as soon as we were about ready to make the start. He then 
requested to know how soon I could get the battalion together 
in anticipation of attacking. I informed him in one-half hour. 
He replied "Good," and then issued the following instructions 
verbally, "You will take your battalion and attack the enemy." 
I requested more definite orders before attacking, for I realized 
that a poorly planned and executed attack was nothing less 
than murder or suicide. His orders were to follow the enemy. 



101 st I N 1 A N T RY 149 

I asked, "Follow them where?" The reply was, "Keep on their 
tail." I then said, "Some definite information must be obtained 
before we can move, especially when no written orders are issued." 
He then replied, "Your la>t and final orders are advance north- 
east. Good-luck." 

I then prepared the battalion in formation for the advance. 
L and K Companies advancing in columns of sections, proceeded 
through the woods, along the left of the main road. They then 
swung into the direction (due east ) of the enemy, first and second 
line trench. The enemy, discovering these companies, opened fire 
upon them. As soon as the firing started in the direction of L 
and K Companies, 1 Company started over the cresl of the hill 
and without warning were upon the enemy. M Company acted 
in support of 1 Company. Within fifteen minutes after giving 
the signal to advance, the entire company, (6th Company, 00th 
Prussian Guards) 1 officer, 07 men, \\<r<- in our lines, and on 
their way to Regimental Headquarters as prisoners. 

As soon as the enemy discovered our surprise attack, they 
withdrew, running in all directions. We continued to attack and 
advanced about 800 meters before darkness set in. After dark- 
ness set in, it was impossible to advance with any great success, 
for the entire territory was completely covered with barbed-wire 
entanglements and large mine craters; many of the shell holes 
and craters were deep enough to place a good sized house in them, 
it was then necessary for us to hold up and consolidate, send 
out patrols to the front and on our flanks, and hold fast until 
daybreak, at which time we were once more to resume the advance. 
The boys now dug fox-holes with their hands, and used these as 
shelter from machine-gun fire. We had no Machine (inns or 
Stokes Mortars to help us. 

In complying with original instructions of the 7th. the Sec- 
ond Battalion had proceeded to the relief of the Third Battalion, 
and on arrival, to their great surprise, found the Third Bat- 
talion had without warning advanced in an attack. No food 
had been brought to the Third Battalion all this day, and it was 
now impossible to secure any ration- on account of the movement. 
Rations, which had been brought to the Second Battalion, were 
then gathered together and with the Ration Detail furnished by 



150 



DEAR OLD "K" 



the Second Battalion the food was brought up to a point so that 
the Third Battalion could secure it at daybreak. Men of the 
Second Battalion refused to eat their rations, for they decided 
that those fellows who had been in the lines for the past seven days 
and were now in attack needed food more than they did. This 
food was left at the junction of the road, but during the night 
it rained very severely, spoiling much of the food, there being no 
means of cover. 

At 20.40 the following message was received by buzzer from 
Regimental Headquarters : 

U. S. ARMY FIELD MESSAGE 



TIME FILED 



RECEIVED BY 



-THESE SPACES FOR SIGNAL OPERATORS ONLY ' 



'From: Jackdaw 



At: P. C. 



HOW SENT 



Date: Nov. 8 Hour 22.40 p.m. No. 1 Buzzer 

To: Jackdaw C-l 

"102d Infantry is already on heights overlooking Denvellers' 
Azannes Road. Rush your advance company forward to heights, 
overlooking Denvellers Azannes Road and on these heights establish 
outposts. Patrol, energetically and constantly, throughout the night 
to the road. Move the rest of your battalion with the Machine-Gun 
Company. Take Mortars and 37mm. Platoon to support your out- 
post line. Notify me xvhen you have reached these heights, and give 
me your location and disposition. General direction of your advance 
will be line drawn from point 265, southeast of Azannes, through 
Billy. The Magnetic Bearings are 70 degrees east of north. The 
Second Battalion has been ordered to follow you at 600 meters, and 
to furnish a liaison group of two platoons of infantry. One section 
machine-guns, commanded by an officer, take every caution to guard 
your right flank." 

"Jackdaw." 



It can be noted that the 102d reported that they were on the 
heights overlooking the Denvellers Azannes, but this was not a 
fact, for we were now at the foot of these heights, and the 102d 



1 1 st INF ANTR Y 151 

Infantry were at least 400 meters in our rear. Thus it was that 
our battalion was left in such an exposed position, subject to 
enfillading fire from all directions. 

At 2.39 o'clock, November 9th, the following order was re- 
ceived by buzzer from Headquarters : 

U. S. ARMY FIELD MESSAGE 



TIME FILED NO. SENT BY TIME I RECEIVED BY TIME 



THESE SPACES FOR SIGNAL OPERATORS ONLY 

"From: Jackdaw 



At: 


P. C. 






Date: 


Nov. 9 Hour 2.39 a.m. 


No. 1 


Buzzer 


To: 


Jackdaw C-l 







"You will not advance your lines at dawn tomorrow, but you will 
throw out patrols to get contact; axis of liaison is changed. You xoill 
outpost your present position, covering the change of direction, which 
Jackdaw B will take up tomorrow xvhen ordered. Jackdaw B then 
becomes the leading battalion, and you xoill, after he passes your lines, 
form, and follow in support. Send out at once patrols to gain liaison 
xvith Jangle. I will notify Jangle and ask him to send patrols toward 
you. Notify me at once xvhen liaison is established. Use panels if 
asked to work front line." 

"Jackdaw." 



It will be noted that the word "Jackdaw" is used on all the 
messages shown. This was the code word of our regiment. 
"Jackdaw" being the Colonel. "Jackdaw A-l," the commanding 
officer of the First Battalion. "Jackdaw B-l," Commander of 
the Second Battalion; and "Jackdaw C-l," Commander of the 
Third Battalion. P. C. indicates Poste de Command. 

The food which was intended for the Third Battalion was not 
received, for the route was changed, and the battalion moved in 
a different direction. Several of the runners from the companies 
crossed the field and each took several loaves of the bread, but 
this was so rain-soaked that they had to throw them away. 



152 DEAR OLD "K" 

After advancing about 500 meters, a terrific enemy bombard- 
ment fell directly on the point now occupied by the Third Bat- 
talion. This caused many casualties. The battalion then changed 
direction 100 meters south to avoid the shell fire. About noon 
the advance was continued, but such terrific machine-gun fire 
with several batteries of Austrian 88's firing point blank and 
down into the ravine made it impossible. Three attempts were 
made to advance, but all without success. The French unit which 
was to advance on the left of the 101st withdrew without notify- 
ing our Headquarters, leaving an unprotected area of approxi- 
mately one and one-half to two kilometers. Also, the unit 
designated to advance on the right of the 101st had changed 
direction, leaving a space of three kilometers. 1st Lieut. Leo 
Adams, in command of M Company, was sent with M Company 
to act as liaison to endeavor to cover the great interval on our 
left, and we trusted to God alone to protect us on the right. 

Late the afternoon of the 9th, a message was received 
notifying us that the meeting of the German Plenipotentiaries 
with Marshal Foch had taken place, and that the Germans were 
given seventy-two hours in which to sign the terms of armistice, 
as presented by Marshal Foch. All felt certain that the Germans 
would sign this armistice, and hoped that the end was near, for 
at this moment our existence was almost unbearable. 

Three attempts were made to advance on the afternoon of the 
9th, but without success. Three more attempts were made during 
the day of the 10th. This also was without success. The Second 
Battalion was now holding the front, or assault position. I Com- 
pany and M Company of the Third Battalion were acting as 
liaison between the left of the 101st Infantry, and the right of 
the 102d Infantry. These companies consisted of a strength of 
not more than fifty men each at this time. L and K Companies 
in support consisted of approximately three squads each 
(twenty-four men). Sgt. John Coughlin, of Fall River, was now 
in command of the handful of "K" men left. This, of course, 
does not mean that all of the rest of the men were casualties, for 
several were acting as stretcher bearers and others bringing up 
ammunition. 

Late the night of the 10th, or early the morning of the 11th, 



1 1 st INF ANTR Y 153 

rations were brought up to the men. These were the first rations 
received by the men of the Third Battalion in approximately 
eighty-two hours. I saw several boys pick up mess kits with 
scraps of food on them which had been thrown away by the 
Boche, and they ate the food. This was a very risky thing, but 
one will do many things when driven to it by hunger. Neither 
did they have anything to drink for a like period other than shell- 
hole water, and many were poisoned by drinking that. 

During the day of the 10th very strong rumors reached us 
that the Germans had decided to sign the terms of the armistice, 
and with the seventy-two hours which was given them on the 9th, 
this would bring them up to 11 o'clock on Monday, the 11th. 

Early in the morning of the 11th, orders were issued that an 
attack was to be executed at 9.30 o'clock. This seemed impossible 
for our Regiment in five attempts to advance on the previous 
day. and night showed us that without artillery assistance, which 
at that time we were without, to attempt an advance meant sui- 
cide and murder. This seemed even stronger when there was a 
possibility that hostilities would cease at 11 o'clock. The final 
order which was received for the attack was to advance at 9.30. 
The advance was to continue until 11 o'clock, at which time all 
firing would cease. This was a very strong intimation that the 
armistice was to take effect. 

The following message was picked up by our wireless operator 
early the morning of the 11th: 

"Les hostilities seront arretes sur tour le front a onze Novembre 
a onze heure (heures franchises) 11. Les troupes allies ne depasser 
ont pas jusqu'a nouvel ordre la ligne atteinte a cette date et cette 
heure." 

"Signe Marechal Foch." 

Translation: 

"The hostilities will be stopped on the whole front on November 
11 at 11 o'clock (French time). The Allied troops are not to pass 
the line held at this date and this hour. 

"Signed. Marshal Foch." 

"Secret." 



154 DEAR OLD "K" 

HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-SIXTH DIVISION, 

AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES, 

FRANCE. 

11 November, 1918. 
Field Orders 
No. 106. 

1. Hostilities will cease upon the entire front at 11 o'clock, 11 
November, '18 (today), French time. 

2. Troops will not cross the line reached at that hour under any 
circumstances, unless ordered by these headquarters. 

3. An immediate reconnaissance of the front line will be made 
by each front line battalion commander at 1 1 o'clock, showing the 
exact location of all his units on a sketch and by coordinates. This 
sketch will be forwarded to these headquarters with the least prac- 
ticable delay. Regimental and brigade commanders will take the 
necessary steps to arrange for couriers for the prompt transmission 
of this information. 

4. Regimental and brigade commanders will, as soon as prac- 
ticable after 1 1 o'clock this date, personally check the locations of 
their front line elements. This information will be placed on a 
1-20,000 sketch and also transmitted to these headquarters with the 
least possible delay. 

5. Under no circumstances will officers and enlisted men of this 
division fraternize with the enemy. 

6. Troops will be kept ready for any eventuality and measures 
of security will not be relaxed. 

7. Organization commanders must maintain a high state of disci- 
pline in their units. 

By command of Brigadier-General Bamford: 

DUNCAN K. MAJOR, JR., 

Chief of Staff. 

Several pleas were entered by officers that the attack might 
be postponed on account of the coming armistice, but to no avail. 
The advance was ordered, and many casualties occurred between 
9.30 and 11 o'clock on the morning of the 11th. We later learned 
that regular army divisions received the same orders as those 
given to our division; but they were told that the attack would 
start at 9.30. Artillery would fall from 9.30 to 10.58. The 
Infantry would then advance at 10.58, halt at 10.59; reorganize, 
consolidate, and dig in; and all firing would cease at 11 o'clock. 
Thus the Infantry advanced only one minute ; but not so with the 
101st Infantry and the remainder of the 26th Division. 



1 01 st INF AN TRY 155 

The 101st Infantry attempted to advance at 9.30, but met 
with such strong resistance that advance was impossible. At 
10.30 our artillery opened a bombardment on the enemy lines. 
At 10.55 many of the gun crews of our artillery had placed long 
cords or ropes on the lanyards of their guns in order to allow a 
number of the doughboys (infantry) to assist at firing the last 
shots of the war. Great scrambles were indulged in in an endeavor 
to secure the last shell fired from each gun. The result was that 
there were probably twenty-five last shell- from each gun. Tlie 
last ten minute- before 11 o'clock there was a tremendous roar of 
artillery. Every battery of the Allies seemed to try to exhaust all 
the ammunition left in France. At 1 1 sharp there came a quiet 
that seemed like a change from black to white, a dead silence. 
Could it be true? Immediately on the cessation of activities at 
11 o'clock the boys were informed there would be no more firing 
and absolutely no fraternizing. The boys threw of}' their packs, 
lay down in the mud, and, from absolute exhaustion, fell sound 
asleep — the first sleep they had had in nearly a week. No great 
celebration was indulged in. 

Bert Ford, the smiling, hustling, and always "on the job" war 
correspondent, who went all through the battles with the boys, 
described very well in U-m- words the condition of our location and 
men when he said: "We left the advanced positions and stumbled 
along on foot through country made ghastly by the wrath of men, 
a country won within a few hours by our waves of infantry. How 
any survived that inferno was a mystery. Everywhere there 
was destruction, desolation, misery, death. And MUD — sticky, 
filthy mud with bodies half buried in it." 

The night of the 11th, there was a great display of fireworks 
along the entire front from both sides. The day seemed entirely 
lonesome, for it was strange not to have to dodge shells and ma- 
chine-gun bullets. It was really hard to believe that at last war 
was at an end. Although the armistice was in effect, there were 
still outposts placed in front of our lines, so that no advantage 
might be given to the enemy, for we had learned that once givr-n 
a chance, he was capable of playing rather mean tricks. 

Among the tricks used on our boys was the case of Timrnie 
Mullen. During the terrific fighting in the Belieu Bois at Verdun, 



156 DEAR OLD "K" 

on October 26th, one German, who was supposedly trapped, de- 
cided to give himself up. It was fairly bright, and to expose 
one's self was dangerous, so they did not take any extra chances. 
He replied to our boys that he was afraid to come over, but if 
some one would come out he would give himself up. Timmie 
Mullen was one of our group, so Timmie volunteered to go out 
and assure the fellow of protection. As Timmie approached him 
the Boche dropped to the ground and several Boche machine-guns, 
which were concealed near by, opened on Timmie and riddled his 
body with bullets. 

In every sector where we had been, great precaution was neces- 
sary, as the Germans left many traps about. One of their schemes 
was to place a piano in a dug-out and as soon as some one would 
play it, a certain key which was wired on touching, would blow 
up the dug-out and smother all those inside. On one occasion, two 
coffins were placed, one on top of the other, and as soon as the 
top one was moved a mine exploded. Souvenirs of all kinds are 
left about and wired to grenades and mines. One loose board 
on a step leading into a dug-out is laid over a nail which when 
pressed set off traps. Iron crosses and other decorations placed 
on dead Boche were found wired to grenades. The schemes used 
are too numerous to mention. 

Those who enjoyed home comforts and steam heat or open 
fireplaces and bath tubs cannot appreciate what it meant to the 
weary doughboys and officers to be able to stand up and light a 
pipe or cigarette, facing the enemy line, and not be nipped for 
doing it. 

You cannot realize how good the fires looked and how much 
better they felt. The doughboys were famished, for fire and 
warmth and the dry warm glow they gave went clear to the bone. 
Little wonder that the wood details were the first selected to 
search the battlefield for fuel. Little wonder that every five or 
six men had a fire of their own, in front of which they sat and 
talked until they dropped off to sleep. 

Shortly after 11 o'clock the 101st Infantry band, which was 
stationed in the City of Verdun, started a procession through the 
city playing patriotic marches. All the soldiers, both American 
and French, joined this procession. To describe the enthusiasm 



101st INFANTRY 157 

and high glee of these soldiers, many of whom had been fighting 
from the opening of the war in 1914 until the present time, words 
are inadequate. One French general, who watched the procession 
looked up as a doughboy raised an American flag over the cathe- 
dral which had been hit many times by enemy shells, and said 
in a very touching tone, "Those stars as they float in the breeze 
are like the stars in the Heaven, and those American boys who 
represent the stars are like messengers from Heaven who have 
well carried out their errand." 

Our outfit remained on the side of the hill at Verdun until 
November 14th, at which time the Division was reorganized and 
started on another journey. 

The divisions that were to comprise the Army of Occupation 
were selected. Among these was the 26th Division; but, owing 
to depleted ranks and poor physical condition of the men, the 
26th Division was not brought up as part of this Army of Occu- 
pation: instead, it started on another toot-tour of France. After 
covering many kilometers, passing through many villages, making 
stops in several, the new area which was to be a rest and training 
area was reached. 

The Division Headquarters was now located at Montigny-le- 
Roi, with the various regiments and companies distributed about 
in the same area, not far from American Headquarters at 
Chaumont. 

K Companv was located at Milliers, there being two companies 
in each village. .Milliers was reached about November 28th. 
Various forms of maneuvers and drills were participated in while 
located in this village. 

Immediately upon reaching Milliers an order was issued that 
twenty-five men from each company were to be allowed to go on 
furlough. This was the first furlough granted to our men since 
reaching France. These men were- organized into groups and 
brought by truck to Division Headquarters. They were given 
new clothing and taken in charge by officers to the- assigned rest 
area either at a summer resort or in the hills of Aix-les-Bains. 
Among the first group to leave "K" was Corporal John J. Savage. 
Savage had not been feeling well for several days. He thought by 
going on the furlough to have a chance to rest, and the change of 



158 DEAR OLD "K" 

atmosphere might do him good. On reaching Montigny, he 
became suddenly ill. The officer in charge of his group ordered 
him sent to the hospital. Pneumonia developed and in a few days 
he passed away. Thus one prince of a chap, a wonderful little 
soldier, left our ranks. It was tough to go through all he had 
passed through during the entire period in the lines, come out 
whole, and then be taken away with pneumonia. His death caused 
a great gloom over the boys, and not a single man who went from 
"K" on that furlough enjoyed himself. 

Shortly after reaching this area the reorganization of all 
units took place. We received new officers and replacement men. 
Capt. Thomas Riley was assigned to command "K." He was a 
former member of the Indiana National Guard. Captain Riley 
remained with "K" until they reached America, and was then 
transferred to I Company. 

The replacement troops which now were assigned to the Regi- 
ment were distributed to the various companies, and they gave a 
new tone to the outfits, for we now had a genuine cosmopolitan 
company. In the early part of the war the first sergeant had 
absolutely no difficulty in calling the roll of the company, for 
nearly all were old standard American names ; but now many of 
them were difficult to pronounce, and they bore a distinct Euro- 
pean tint. One day about three weeks after the arrival of the 
new replacements 1st Sgt. Roy C. Muir, who had been suffering 
with a cold for several days, was calling the roll of "K" at 
Retreat, and when half-way through he sneezed and immediately 
several of the replacements answered "Present." 

About this time, letters were coming from America notifying 
many of the boys that their girl friends were following the old 
adage, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" (of the other 
fellow). A number of the boys were informed that their sweet- 
hearts were either keeping company or were about to be married 
to other fellows. The early letters which contained this informa- 
tion brought quite some gloom to the recipients, but later those 
who left sweethearts in America made up their minds that if 
news came stating they were listed among the losers, it was simply 
part of the great battle in which they were taking part. One 
member of K Company received such a message. He opened the 



101st INFANTRY 159 

letter while sitting on his bunk in the loft of an old barn in the 
Town of Milliers. One of the boys, noticing his gloom, inquired 
for the cause. He immediately told him that his girl was engaged 
to another fellow. At the same time he was wearing a ring upon 
his finger which had been given him by this girl, he having on 
more than one occasion bragged about the gift. The boys pro- 
ceeded to jolly him, stating that if they were in his place, they 
would throw the ring away for spite. He agreed that they were 
right. Taking off the ring, he threw it from the loft of the barn 
down into the street. Ten minutes later he attempted to descend 
the ladder leading from the loft, but, losing his step, he fell two- 
thirds way down, a distance of about ten feet. After picking 
himself up, the boys who had suggested the discarding of the ring, 
proceeded to convince him that the throwing away of the ring 
must have brought him hard luck. So after more than a day of 
constant searching, the ring was once more located in the gutter 
in front of the barn, and he placed it back upon his finger. At 
last reports it was learned that the girl would meet him at the 
pier upon his return. 

Thanksgiving Day was passed in a very quiet manner. We 
had hoped that by Thanksgiving, or not later than Christmas, 
we would be back to enjoy our holiday meal at home; but no 
such luck. Orders were issued during the middle of December 
that President Wilson was to be the guest of the troops for 
Christmas, and he made a special request that he eat his Christ- 
mas dinner with the 26th Division, this being a special honor con- 
ferred on the 26th Division, for its record of having been in the 
lines longer than any other division in France. A general review 
was held in honor of the President on the morning of the 25th. 
Every company in the Division was told to prepare for a visit 
in their village from the President. With this in view, the various 
companies policed about their streets and billets until every village 
in the Divisional Area was a model of cleanliness. Newspaper 
accounts stating that the President was to eat Christmas dinner 
with our Division, also said that he was to stand in line with a 
mess kit and eat the same rations as given to the doughboys. 

After the review in the morning, the President selected one or 
two villages, and inspected them. A story is told by one of the 



160 DEAR OLD "K" 

officers, who accompanied the President and General Pershing 
on this tour of Inspection, how the President asked about the 
various parts of equipment, as they wire laid out on the bunks. 
Genera] Pershing, picking up a hall-shelter, opened it out and 
explained how it is set up. The General then threw it carelessly 
hack on the bunk. President Wilson turned to the General and 
said, "General, you wouldn't like to have that boy throw your 
equipment back in that manner after finding it nicely folded; so 
1, as your Commander-in-Chief, order you to fold that tent and 
place it back in the same manner in which you found it." The 
General smiled, saluted, and said, '"Yes, sir." He folded the tent, 
and they departed. 

K Company and I Company remained standing in tin' mid- 
dle of tin- road in Milliers until l.'M) o'clock, not being allowed 
to eat dinner until word was received that the President would 
not pass through our village. The Company then fell in line 
and had a very good Christmas dinner, of beef stew with all the 
trimmings (bread and coffee). 

About the second week in JanUary, a circular was received 
from I)i\ision Headquarters which informed us that, although 
the newspapers had said many things about the President going 
to eat the regular bill-of-fare of the doughboys on Christmas, 
this was not true. This circular suggested that each company 
of the Division contribute fifteen francs to pay for the meal, 
which was furnished the President and his party, and each Com- 
pany Commander contribute ten francs. We later learned that 
the ten francs was to pay for broken and lost china and crockery 
ware which probably was taken as souvenirs by the guests at 
the dinner. And they say, "It was a tough war." 

Many iii' our men were compelled to go about with uniforms 
which showed the effects of hard wear. In many instances, not 
only the men were reprimanded but the Company officers were 
taken to task by inspecting officers for the poor condition of the 
clothes. All this happened when the troops in the lines were 
unable to get new clotjlingj hut this was not so with those in the 
rear of the lines. I mention this to show a contrast. At one of 

the base hospitals in Toul, a number of German prisoners who 
had been wounded were convalescing. These prisoners were going 




Picture taken immediately on return from raid May 30- 

31. I'Hm. All in and weary. 

Left to riKlit : Lieut. Carl Mayhew, Scout Officer 
( apt. S. T. Schoonmaker 
Lieut. Donald Dunbar 
Lieut. James T. Duane 
Interpreter Paul ( frgel 
Captain Schoonmaker and Lieutenanl Dunbar were later 
kill.-d. The Interpreter and Lieutenanl Mayhew were 
evacuated physically exhausted. 




Our beloved Chaplain Rollins holding one of his services 
while in Keserve-line position ( Rahanne Woods). 




X General Passaga, Commander of 32d French Armj 
Corps. Chaplain Rollins on extreme left end. Major James 
Hickey, third from left. General John ( Machine-Gun ) 
Parker talking to Genera] Passaga. Lieutenant John J. 
Rile} on extreme right. 

Talking over plans for a coming raid into the enemy linos. 




Entrance to a dug-out in front line at \n ra) -Marvoisin. 
These dug-outs had to !>«• pumped out daily to get rid of 
water before the men just relieved from advance positions 
could go in and sleep. 



1 1 st I NF ANTR Y 161 

about completely outfitted inside and out with brand-new Ameri- 
can uniforms. This certainly was an insult to every American 
soldier. 

At a meeting called by Colonel Hobbs, successor to Colonel 
Logan, of all the officers of our battalion, a very interesting talk 
was given. The lecture opened something in this manner: After 
walking up and down the floor, the Colonel pounded his fist into 
the palm of his left hand and exclaimed: "By — !, there are 
not court-martials enough in this regiment. I want to see more 
of them!" Absolutely every officer in that gathering could have 
been court-martialed and maybe shot for the thoughts in his 
mind at the Colonel's interesting talk. This was a pleasant ex- 
pression, and especially so when less than two days previous the 
Colonel had said that the men were behaving in an exceptionally 
fine manner and congratulated the officers on the discipline in 
their companies. We all felt that this expression was not Colonel 
Hobbs's, but was sent through him by powers higher up. 

Many complaints have been heard, and much has been said 
in the newspapers, about all the baggage which was lost or stolen 
in France. The greatest sufferers from the loss of baggage 
were those officers and men who served in the combat divisions. 
After great effort, many valuable souvenirs were picked up and 
placed in barrack bags and trunks, and later stored in the rear 
for safe keeping under the guardianship of men in the S. O. S. 
(Service of Supply). 

On returning from the lines to secure the baggage, in most 
cases it was found badly rifled and often gone entirely. This 
same stealing of baggage and souvenirs occurred on the returning 
transports and at the ports of debarkation in America. Hence 
many lads who had promised war souvenirs to maidens fair, were 
compelled to report back empty handed with no souvenirs. 

On January 29th, "K" moved over the road in the usual man- 
ner (foot), covering kilometer after kilometer, until the officers, 
instead of giving the command after a halt, "Forward, march!" 
said, "Stagger on." We reached our entraining point, rode for 
one day and part of the night, detrained, and marched to the 
Village of Fille. This was in the Le Mans Area. Here we were 
to get our final cleansing and all preparations for our start home. 



162 DEAR OLD "K" 

"K" remained in the Village of Fille until March 25th, doing 
regular routine drills, athletic competitions, etc., and thus getting 
back in part some of the strength and flesh which were lost during 
the sojourn on the battle fronts. 

During the stay in Fille there was an effort made by suave- 
tongued officers sent throughout the outfits ready to embark for 
home to have the men sign up to transfer into the Military Police 
to do duty in Germany for six months or more. 

So bright did the M. P. officer paint the picture of ease and 
luxury in the M. P.s that forty-two members of "K" signed up. 

Realizing that they probably would regret the move when 
they saw their pals start for home, and knowing their waiting 
relatives would be sad, I placed the situation before the forty-two 
near M. P.s. Within an hour there was a great scramble to 
cancel the transfer. A committee of the boys worked all night, 
and after great effort and using every influence possible the order 
of transfer was canceled and the boys returned with "K," a happy 
lot. 

We were now nearing the end of our tour of France in which 
we saw a great portion of the country., covering it thirty inches 
at a time (regulation step). 

The following report will show the care and sanitation our 
t rocps used in order to leave all areas in first-class shape: 

HEADQUARTERS 101ST INFANTRY 

AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES 

FRANCE 

PRELIMINARY ENTRAIN M EXT INSTRUCTIONS 

No. 3 

20 March, 1919. 

1. On leaving this area Commanding Officers of troops in Pa- 
rigne ; Guecelard, and Fille will leave an acting Town Major in these 
three towns for 2 1 hours after the departure of troops to receive 
and settle all claims that may arise. At the expiration of these 24 
hours the acting Town Majors will obtain the following clearance 
papers from the Mairc of the Commune in duplicate; one copy of 
which they will forward to the Zone Major, Eccomoy Area, at Eceo- 
moy. and the other they will retain: 

"The undersigned. Mayor of the Commune of Department of 

Sarthe, hereby certifies that all claims for damages of whatsoever 



101st INFANTRY 163 

nature against the American Army which have arisen within this 
commune have been registered in the office of the Mayor and turned 
over to the American Military authorities for settlement." 

They will then proceed to the Port of Embarkation by the next 
troop train. All other towns in the area will be cared for by officers 
of the Eccomoy area. 

2. Immediately prior to the departure of this Regiment from the 
area, sanitary conditions will be inspected by the District Sanitary 
Inspector, working in conjunction with the various Town Majors, who 
will be informed of the result of the inspection of the various towns. 
The following instructions will be strictly complied with by the units 
of this Regiment in cleaning up the areas now occupied by them: 

(a) On leaving the area each latrine will be filled with earth if 
its contents are within 3 feet of the surface, otherwise its contents 
will be covered by at least 6 inches of earth. The latrine tops will 
be scrupulously cleaned and the covers will be carefully fitted and 
replaced if necessary. Care will be taken that every latrine, whether 
public or private, that has been used by our troops is so treated, 
unless objection is made by private owners, when their directions will 
be followed. No paper or other refuse will be left in the vicinity 
of latrines. 

(o) All kitchen wastes which may decompose will be carried 
away by the inhabitants or will be incinerated or buried under at least 
18 inches of earth. All tin cans will be piled high in a single com- 
mon dump outside the village in a place designated by the local Town 
Major. The area occupied by each kitchen will be carefully policed, 
leveled, and fresh earth will be spread over any soiled portions, care 
being taken to leave these areas in a neat and attractive condition. 

(r) Billets and barracks will be cleaned and swept and the refuse 
therefrom will be burned and buried. The grounds surrounding bil- 
lets, barracks, and areas used for drill, instruction, or in any manner 
by our troops and the streets in the vicinity of these will be policed. 
The refuse therefrom will be burned and buried if inflammable or of 
a decomposing nature, otherwise it will be collected in a common 
dump outside the village, which dump will be designated by the local 
Town Major. 

(</) Exceeding care will be taken to discover and bury any pro- 
miscuous defacations in the area. 

(c) Manure in and near stables which have been occupied by 
our animals will be taken away by the inhabitants previous to our 
departure, or will be placed in a dump such as the local Town Major 
may select. 

(/) All dumps which have been used by our troops will be left 
in a neat and orderly condition, with cans, street sweepings, and 
manure in separate piles. All refuse which may decompose will be 
buried under at least 18 inches of dirt. 



164 DEAR OLD "K" 

(g) All open wells, cisterns, and water courses in the vicinity 
of kitchens, billets, or barracks will be inspected, and if found con- 
taminated by our troops will be emptied and cleaned. 

(/i) Entraining points will be carefully policed before the de- 
parture of each train. The latrines there installed will be located 
and direction signs, pointing toward them, will be erected. (Entrain- 
ing officers will be held responsible for compliance with this para- 
graph.) 

(i) Town Majors will be consulted whenever it is necessary to 
determine the proper procedure in such cases where explicit direc- 
tions are not here stated. 

On March 26th we once more entrained and started on the 
last lap of our journey, arriving this same day at the famous 
port of Brest. We were now quartered in the large camp at 
Brest, at which all final arrangements, as to equipment, etc., were 
made prior to sailing for home — back to God's Country and his 
chosen people. 

Many stories had reached us prior to our arrival at Brest, 
giving the information that certain outfits had given vent to 
their feelings by expressions as to their joy at leaving the coun- 
try, the abuse which they received, and many other stories which 
resulted in their being taken from camp and returned into 
the central part of France, and ordered to remain there for a 
period of about six months more. These stories kept our boys 
alert. Hardly a word was spoken of the country or of the people. 

So on March 27th, "K" started for the great wharf at Brest. 
On our arrival there we were carried out to the transport which 
was then lying outside of the Brest Harbor. K Company was 
among the organizations which were assigned to the America, 
formerly the great German Liner Ameriha. As soon as all troops 
were aboard, the baggage being placed in the hold, the signal was 
given at 18 o'clock (6 p. m.), March 27th; with steam up, the 
whistles of our transport shrieked, and we left Brest Harbor 
headed for our beloved America. 

Although no expressions were given by the boys as to their 
treatment, etc., many of them as they stood at the railing looking 
back were heard to exclaim, "I could be court-martialed and kept 
in France for my thoughts, right now." 

The trip back over the ocean was a very pleasant one. There 
was plenty to eat and excellent sleeping quarters for all. Enter- 



101st INFANTRY 165 

tainments were held morning, afternoon, and evening, there being 
three bands on board. While we were now traveling in far differ- 
ent style from that on the trip going over, still no great enthusi- 
asm was aroused during the trip, for we had moved so often from 
one front to another, and from village to village, that this trip 
seemed like another move to a new front. This was our feeling 
until early the morning of Saturday, April 5th. 

As dawn was breaking, a heavy mist hung over the ocean, and 
the boys were lined up by the railing of our great ship, a loud and 
long shout was heard, for they had sighted Boston Light. Colum- 
bus himself did not realize any greater joy at the first sight of 
land than our boys did that morning. The weather was very 
foggy, but gradually cleared. 

Owing to the tide not being favorable, it was necessary for 
our transport to lie outside the harbor for several hours. During 
the wait a torpedo boat destroyer hove in sight and came from 
the harbor to greet us. In a short while we were greeted by a 
number of other boats which came alongside. We soon entered 
President Roads. 

Now the enthusiasm which was lacking on the early part of 
the trip began to display itself. A number of sub-chasers which 
were bedecked with Yeomen (F) came alongside our boat. There 
was much real comedy as the boys greeted the girls with their 
haphazard French. We were now experiencing the thrill and 
desire for which we had hoped during the past year or more. 

As our transport steamed up President Roads, it was greeted 
by more boats loaded with relatives and friends anxious to show 
their joy at the return of the boys. All of these greetings looked 
mighty good to us ; but when the ferry boat, bearing a large white 
banner covering the entire side, saying "Mothers' Boat" came 
in sight, many chills ran up our spines and tears came to our eyes, 
for the boys now realized that they were within sight and hearing 
of God's Own Country and our darling mothers and other 
relatives. 

Not a great way from the Mothers' Boat was another bearing 
the words, "Auxiliary Boat, 101st Infantry." This sign also 
brought a thrill, for on this boat were many mothers of our boys 
and other good women who had done so much and sent so much 



166 DEAR OLD "K" 

cheer while we were across. My brother, Martin P. Duane, and 
a number of Clinton and Hingham women were among the guests 
on the auxiliary boat. 

There was one more boat which was very prominent in the 
reception. It bore a banner which covered its entire side with 
"K Company, 101st Infantry," printed on it. This boat was in 
charge of the Hingham folks, and certainly made a lot of real 
noise. This great demonstration certainly made us feel that the 
folks at home were anxious to show their appreciation of the work 
accomplished by the boys in France. It was hard to realize that 
any one of us could have deserved such tribute as was paid by the 
good people in their reception. 

After passing through a great lane of crafts of all descrip- 
tions, with every available inch of ground along the banks of the 
harbor, and all the factories and other buildings crowded with 
people, we finally reached the dock at Commonwealth Pier. Here 
another great demonstration was held. The transport docked 
late in the afternoon and we were compelled to remain on board 
all that night, for the reason that clearance papers could not be 
given. 

As our transport sailed up the harbor we were met by one of 
the City of Boston boats. On board this boat were many prom- 
inent men. Among the very first to come aboard the transport 
was U. S. Senator David I. Walsh. Our beloved Senator from 
Clinton extended a personal greeting to all the Clinton boys. Chief 
of Police of Clinton, John F. McGee, was at the wharf to meet 
the transport, and came aboard and also presented his greetings 
from the people at home. 

After an anxious night on board, early the morning of Sun- 
day. April 6th, all men prepared to march up the gangplank, 
leaving the decks of our good transport, America, and onto Com- 
monwealth Pier. As we reached the Pier, the men marched be- 
tween two lines of welfare workers, who distributed various articles 
for smoking, candy, etc., and then proceeded to the railroad depot 
on the other section of the wharf, and for the first time in more 
than two years we got aboard real honest-to-goodness railroad 
trains. At first it was difficult to get used to the plush seats, 
long aisles, well-ventilated, bright, and cheerful cars. The trip 
from Commonwealth Pier to Camp Devens was one continual 
demonstration by men, women, and children all along the line. 



101st INFANTRY 167 

Camp Devens reached, men were assigned to tents which were 
to be their quarters until the barracks were assigned. All pro- 
ceeded to discard their equipment. The next problem was, "How- 
soon can we see the folks?" 

Orders were issued to allow passes to but twenty-five per cent 
of the enlisted personnel, giving them permission to go to their 
homes and to return on the following morning. Twenty-five per- 
cent was all that were allowed, but with no fences around the 
camp, I would like to see an ordinary guard prevent these boys 
who had made up their minds to reach their homes and see their 
folks. These boys had been in France for twenty-one months, 
most of this time preparing for and on the firing line. When 
the Germans could not stop them, how was a Camp Devens guard 
going to do it? The result: Most of the boys had supper with 
their folks at home that night, and great joy was everywhere 
at the reunions. 

While these reunions were being held there was another drama 
being played at other homes. As the parents of those boys who 
did not return saw the buddies of their boys arriving, their 
thoughts were once more carried to the ones still in France left 
to keep the eternal watch. The parents' hearts were heavy and 
sad. Many were the words of comfort to the parents by the 
returned lads, telling of the great soldier qualities of their de- 
parted buddies and how noble they fought and died. 

On the return of the boys from France, many questions were 
asked by the home folks, and among the most frequently asked 
was, "How did you fellows ever have the nerve to face the ma- 
chine-guns and bayonets and how did it feel to be under artillery 
fire?" 

Let me tell all my good friends that it is harder to describe 
the feelings in those events than it is to go through them. To 
advance in the face of machine-guns is no pleasant task, and to 
fight hand to hand with bayonets is another rough form of enter- 
tainment, but, when one realizes that he is there to accomplish a 
purpose, and the only means of accomplishing his end is to use 
his bayonet, he gets his fighting spirit up and advances with the 
idea that it is either you or the other fellow and, of course, you 
always vote for the other fellow. Perhaps the feeling under 



168 DEAR OLD "K" 

artillery fire is easiest of any to describe, but the only feeling 
that I can liken it to, as the shells come toward you and you 
imagine your name is engraved on each one, is to be strapped 
onto a railroad tie ; as you lie there you feel the vibration of a 
heavy train coming in the distance. As it approaches with a 
terrible rumble and rattle, you await the moment to have it reach 
you with a rush and pass over your body, only to find that you 
were on the small section of the tie outside of the rail. It is 
always a happy relief when a shell which you hear whizzing in 
your direction lands — somewhere else in France. During a heavy 
shelling one day the enemy sent many shells far to the rear — 
fifteen landing near Division Headquarters. As they sailed over 
the heads of our lads, they shouted, "Go to it, Boche, give them 
more back there so they will know the war is still on; if you give 
them a lot, we're for you." 

Of the great days in a soldier's career, the morning of a big 
attack leads all. The orders have been issued and all final instruc- 
tions have been transmitted to officers and men; everybody is 
moving about with a high tension spirit, and all await with a 
nervous strain the hour of starting. At the set hour our artillery 
lets loose a perfect thunder, and the fun is on. The artillery 
plays on the enemy lines for a given period, at H hour (zero 
hour) the artillery advances its range, and with a yell of "Let's 
go, boys," the doughboys are on their way, and after passing 
through great depths of barbed-wire entanglements, they reach the 
first enemy line. There is a certain thrill that keeps the chill 
running up and down the spine as you advance, but the greatest 
nervous strain is waiting the moment when you come in personal 
contact with the enemy. You meet him, and the excitement is 
so great that you have no time to think of personal fear. 

Have I been afraid in battle? Yes — awfully; I'll bet no one 
in the army felt any more so than I. If a man says he was never 
afraid in battle, his is one of two cases — he is mentally unbalanced 
or else is handling the truth rather haphazardly. 

As the boys said, "How could a man stand up and not feel a 
little fear when the Jerries were throwing freight cars, ash cans, 
and railroad tracks (as the big shells were sometimes called) at 
him?" 



1 1 st INF AN TRY 169 

The machine-gun nests were difficult things to attack. The 
machine-guns are usually so placed that they cover every portion 
of the enemy line, and are enfillading the whole position ; that 
means that when they fire, each gun is firing its bullets so that 
they overlap the other, and this forms a sort of scissors-effect, 
the guns on the right firing to the left, the left guns to the right, 
and the frontal guns covering the interval. Thus every single 
inch of front is being covered by bullets. 

Camp Devens had been completed after our Regiment left 
for France, so the camp was a new site to the boys. We were 
greatly impressed with the tremendous area which it covered, 
and the splendid arrangements of the camp. In order to keep 
the men in good physical condition and to keep their minds occu- 
pied until such time as the orders were to be issued for the muster- 
ing out of the Regiment, the regular routine work, drills, etc., 
were carried on. 

On April 20th, a large consolidated review was held at the 
camp by the entire Division. Thousands of friends and admirers 
of the Division were present to witness this ceremony. 

On April 26th, the Division again gave a review, but this time 
in the City of Boston. We marched through the city streets, 
which were elaborately decorated and which were lined with people 
beyond count. It was one of the most impressive sights Boston 
ever witnessed. The boys, marching with bayonets fixed and fight- 
ing helmets on, made it a real war-time spectacle. 

April 28th. This was the day looked forward to by the boys 
for at least one year. It was on this day that K Company, 101st 
Infantry, was to be mustered out of the service of the United 
States Army. All papers were arranged, pay rolls prepared, and 
each man given his own discharge. As the boys took such equip- 
ment as they were allowed to take for their personal property, 
amid great cheering, many farewells to their buddies, whom they 
had slept with and fought with during many trying days and 
nights, they departed for their homes. 

The final chapter of K Company was written on May 2d, 1919. 
On this day, after I had personally completed the records of "K," 
accounted for the property allotted to the Company, and re- 
ceived final clearance papers, I was mustered out of the service. 



l7 o DEAR OLD "K" 

With my discharge, K Company, 101st Infantry, with its glorious 
history of bravery and valor for deeds accomplished in battle, 
and bearing a record second to no company in the entire American 
Expeditionary Forces, passed into memory. 

"FINI LA GUERRE" 



"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with J 
firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let 
us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the 
nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the 
battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which 
may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among 
ourselves and with all nations." — From Second Inaugural 
Address of the illustrious Abraham Lincoln, March 4th, 
1865. 



CROIX DE GUERRE versus CROSS OF GOD 

Dedicated to his Pals 
By Sergeant II. W. ./. Fitzgerald, 101st Infantry 

You ask me who deserves the praise, 

'Mid battle's rage and strife, 
And who shall wear the D. S. C.s and Croix des Guerres, 

And be remembered throughout life? 

The leaders who outguessed the foe, 

And led their men for gain, 
Will surely be remembered, 

And be known in history's fame. 

The man who helps a comrade, 

Who cannot help himself, 
Or the ones that trust to God, 

And care not for themselves — 

They too will all be cited, 

'Mid cheering and wild applause, 
Be praised and honored for their bit 

Toward helping out the cause. 

The commanders of the ships at sea, 

Who sink the Ocean's dread, 
Will also share in prayer and thought, 

And be thought of, after they're dead. 

But there are some, I really hope, 

We'll all remember throughout our life, 

And they're the ones who gave their all — 
Their lives — in this awful strife. 

Just now they're listed as casualties, 

And hardly a second thought is given, 
Unless they chance to be a kin or friend ; 

And then home remorse is driven. 

Some few there are who have no ties, 

No mother waiting there, 
But surely they as well deserve 

A tiny little share. 

171 



172 DEAR OLD "K" 

So after all is said and done, 

And the boys come marching home, 

'Mid shouting crowds, banner swinging, 
And the trumpets loudly blown, 

There'll be some gray-haired men and women, 
Who'll not join the joyous throng, 

For them the wondrous home-coming 
Will sound like a funeral song. 

Perhaps their only son, husband, or brother — 

The apple of their eye — 
Has done his bit on foreign soil, 

For justice he did die. 

The waving of the banners, 

The sounding of the drum, 
Will only be a reminder, 

Of the one that does not come. 

So let this be a gentle hint, 

And if you're ever in a throng, 

Cheering a war-made hero — 

Do it with a shout and song. 

Then after he's received his due, 

And passed with praises loud, 
Just say a prayer for the lad who can't 

Join in the returning crowd. 
In after years just keep a thought 

Of the ones who fell o'er there: 
Whose graves are marked by the Cross of God, 

And whose after life they'll share. 

So here's a health to the winners 

Of all D. S. C.s and Croix des Guerres; 

May they always be happy 

And receive a lucky share ! 

But while we are toasting the heroes, 

Who were made by fame and chance, 

We'll all join in admiration and thanks, 
To the boys who died in France. 





Rudolph J. Ha.ikk 

Grundy Co., Coal City, 111. 

Private, Co. K. 101st Infantry 

Killed in action, October 2.5th. 1!>18 



EvEKETT H. MlNIGAN 

Killed in action. July 15, 191S 





James R. Kirby 
Killed in action. July 15, 1918 



William S. Carlisle 
Killed in action, July, 1918 





Leo A. Kiii ii v 
Killed the 23d of October, 1918 



Leon Webster Josselyn 

Killed in action. Waddbnville, France 
September, 1918 





John J. Savage 
Died in France, December 8, 1918 



R \ i i'h \V . Douglass 

Killed in action at Waddonville, France 

September, l!H8 




TlMMIE Ml'1,1 EN 

Killed in Action 




James F. Run i: 
Killed in Action 




, r-i. 



George R. Wright 

Killed in Action 






James Connelly 

Killed in Action 



Chahles S. M vers 

Killed in Action 



Aii xandeb K. Borland 
Killed in Action 




George H. Meaj i \ 

Killed in Action 




William J. Din in v 
Missing in Action 




Wimi \m J. Johnson 

Died in Service 





Edwin T. Armstrong 
Died from wound received in action 



Robert A. Murray, Jh. 
Died in France from wounds 




Captain Stephen T. Schoonmaker 

Beloved officer of " K " who com- 
manded the Company during the Meuse- 
Argonne fight, in which battle he was 
killed while leading his troops. 



Sn Mtmovmm 



The following is a list of the members of "K" who died 
in France, and whose memory will always live in the minds 
and hearts of those of their comrades who were blessed with 
a safe return to their homes and loved ones: 

CAPT. STEPHEN T. SCHOONMAKER 
2d LIEUT. ANDREW GERDIN 

GEORGE R. WRIGHT WILLIAM JOHNSON 
ALEXANDER R. BORLAND JAMES R. KIRBY 

JOHN J. SAVAGE EVERETT H. MINIGAN 

JAMES F. BRUCE TIMOTHY MULLEN 

JAMES CONNELLY ROBERT A. MURRAY, JR. 

ERNEST CAMPBELL CHARLES S. MYERS 

RALPH W. DOUGLASS WILLIAM S. CARLISLE 

LEO ELLERY GEORGE H. MEALEY 

RUDOLPH J. HAJEK EDWIN ARMSTRONG 

EDWARD HOWELL WILLIAM J. DUNPHY 
LEON W. JOSSELYN 

By their deeds of personal bravery and devotion to the 
common cause, they upheld the traditions of the American 
people, enhanced the brilliant record of their Company and 
Regiment, and proved their sterling qualities by the Supreme 
Sacrifice, in that they were not afraid to lay down their 
lives for their country. 

They are enrolled amongst the Heroes of our truly 
great Regiment and Valorous Division. 

Fear not that ye have died for naught, 
The torch ye threw to us we caught! 

Ten million hands will hold it high, 
And Freedom's light shall never die! 

We've learned the lesson that ye taught 
In Flanders' Field. 

B. W. Lillard 



173 



"THE YD CEMETERY" 

"The peasant children pass it as they leave the village school, 
The pious strangers cross themselves along the road to Toul, 
The captains call attention as the dusty troops plod by, 
The officers salute it though receiving no reply; 
'Tis a spot all brown and barren, 'mid the poppies in the 

grain — 
The YD cemetery by a roadside in Lorraine. 

"A row of wooden crosses and beneath the upturned sod 
The hearts once wild and restless now know the peace of God. 
The brave young lads who left us while life was at its flood, 
While life was fresh and joyous, and fire was in the blood; 
Their young lives now enfranchised from mirth or joy or 

pain, 
They sleep the sleep eternal by a roadside in Lorraine. 

"Of all the myriad places for the dead of man to rest, 
The graveyard of the warrior for a freeman is the best; 
Oh ! not for them our pity, but far across the foam 
For the gray-haired mother, weeping in some New England 

home; 
'Tis she who has our pity, 'tis she who feels the pain 
Of the YD cemetery by a roadside in Lorraine. 

"The plodding columns pass them along the old Toul road; 
New companies come marching where yesterday they strode; 
Above, the whir of motors — beyond, the roar of guns, 
Where their allies and their brothers join battle with the 

Huns. 
And the sunlight of their glory bursts through the clouds and 

rain, 
O'er the YD cemetery by a roadside in Lorraine." 

Lieut. Col. Harry B. Anderson. 



174 



HEADQUARTERS 101st INFANTRY 
Camp Devens, Mass. 

April 28, 1919. 

Captain James T. Duane, 

Commander, Company K, 101st Infantry, 
Camp Devens, Mass. 

My dear Captain Duane: 

I cannot allow the muster out of your Company and the departure 
of the officers and men of your command to their homes upon the 
completion of their services, without a word of thanks to you, and 
through you to them, for the very efficient service which they rendered 
to the Regiment and to the country during all our participation in 
this war. 

To you all personally, I am sure I do not need to state my 
sincere appreciation as your Regimental Commander for the loyal 
manner in which every officer and every man in the Company served 
during the war, nor to speak in detail of the great accomplishments 
made by them; for I am sure that every one of them knows how 
deeply and how sincerely I appreciate, as their Regimental Com- 
mander, the hardships which they suffered, the efficiency which they 
displayed, and the accomplishments which they secured during their 
service. 

Splendidly officered, not only in its commissioned, but in its non- 
commissioned personnel, this Company never failed when called upon, 
and indeed exceeded our highest expectations. 

You and every member of your Company have every reason to 
be proud of the splendid service rendered. You know in your hearts 
the sacrifices which you have made, the sufferings which you have 
endured, and the bravery shown on so many occasions, all too little 
recognized by those who should have been anxious to approve by 
citation and decoration the splendid heroism those men displayed. 

I am sorry that it has not been our good fortune to secure for 
these men the decorations which so many of them justly earned, 
but fortunately the injustices which they have suffered have in no 

175 



176 DEAR 

way dimmed the value which the people of the Commonwealth have 
placed upon their splendid efforts. 

You may be sure that I wish you and all your officers and men a 
happy return to your homes and a very prosperous, happy, and suc- 
cessful life, now that you will soon be back with the people you love. 

Sincerely yours, 

(Signed) Edward L. Logan, 

Colonel Commanding 101st Infantry. 
ELL/FM 




'* K " boys on their way to the Mexican Border in l!)l<>. 
This picture is used only to show contrast between troop 
train service in America and the mode of travel in France. 




"K " boys coming up for air on a stop during a ride to 
the front in their de luxe Pullman. 




M) Homines — 8.Cheveaux 
(40 men or 8 animals) 

The only thing missing in these cars was some straw and 
a few pitch-forks. The boys would then feel exactly like 
the eight animals. 




President Woodrow Wilson landing in France 




Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies Marshal Foch and 
General Pershing 




-tMCtltt - . ' - ■ .< - -..A-.cu " A'.P !StAR TronT. g^j 



This picture shows Clemenceau more in resemblance of his title. " The 
Tiger." than any other. 




Genera] Pershing greeting Marshal Joffre 




At the entrance of nearlj e\ er\ town or 
village there was a Crucifix. 

Three members of " K " admiring- this 
wonderful marble figure it the entrance of 
Donmartin-la-France. 

Sergt. Paul Devanej 
Sergt. John O'Mallej 
Corpl, James Mohan 




Shot before going across. 
Looking over the mark after taking 
a ->hot of anti-typhoid. 




Female tillers of the soil women 
were compelled to do the manual labor 
while men foughl . 



ROSTER OF OFFICERS AND MEN WHO WERE MEMBERS 

OF K COMPANY, 101st INFANTRY, 

.// some time from August 5, 1917, to dale of muster out 

The addresses given are those recorded at time of discharge 
from service. 

The addresses are printed so that the members of K Company 
can get in touch with their buddies, whom they may have lost track of, 
and thereby continue the old Company spirit. 

Capt. James T. Duane, Clinton, Mass. Commanding Company 

Capt. Peter F. Connelly, Clinton, Mass. 

Tsfd. as Ch. Provost Marshal at Nice 
'( Mi. Stephen T. Schoonmaker Killed in action at Verdun 

Capt. Thomas P. Riley, V.i St. Ledger Street, Akron, O. 

Tsfd. to I Company, 101st Inf. 
1st. Lt. George G. Moyse, Waltham, Mass. 

Tsfd. to U. S. as Instructor 
1st. Lt. George A. Corbin, Worcester, Mass. 

Tsfd. to U. S. as Instructor 
1st. Lt. Edward J. Price New York City 

1st. Lt. Ed(;ar R. DENSMORE, Clinton, Mass. 

Tsfd. to G Company, 101st Inf. 
1st. Lt. Leo R. Adams, 80 Central Avenue, Medford, Mass. 

Duty with Company 
1st. Lt. Edward Guild Tsfd. to Hdqs. Company, 101st Inf. 

1st. Lt. Richard W. Lind Tsfd. to G Company, 101st Inf. 

1st. Lt. John W. Breathed Tsfd. to Hdqs. Company, 101st Inf. 
2n. i/i. \k.ai. H. Fisher, Foxcroft, Maine 

Tsfd. to U. S. as Instructor 
2d. Lt. Donald S. Francis, Athol, Mass. 

Tsfd. to U. S. as Instructor 
2d. Lt. Albert S. Lane Tsfd. to F Company, 101st Inf. 

2d. Lt. Howard J. Cummings, Clinton, Mass. 

Wounded in action at Chateau-Thierry 
*2d. Lt. Andrew Gerdin Killed in action at Waddonville, France 

2d. Lt. Ralph T. Baisden Wounded in action at Verdun, France 
2d. Lt. Carrol Seehof 1 107 Jarvis Avenue, Chicago, 111. 

2d. Lt. Waldo J. Lacrosse 

Tsfd. to University Sorbonne, Paris, France 
1T7 



178 



DEAR OLD "K" 



2d. Lt. George G. King Tsfd. to Military Police, A. E. F. 

2d. Lt. William A. Fuller, Clinton, Mass., Tsfd. to Fifth Regiment 



Ralph A. Tyler 
John F. A. Melledy 
Charles H. Bent 
Roy C. Muir 



1ST SERGEANTS 

Clinton, Mass. 

Hudson, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

585 Main Street, Watertown, Mass. 



Paul L. Devaney 
Clarence W. Goss 
Ralph D. Boynton 

William L. Roach 
Edward R. Reddy 



John H. Hastings 
Peter J. Schofield 
Edward W. Brady 
*William S. Carlisle 
Martin A. O'Toole 
*George H. Mealy 
Michael T. Griffin 
Eugene C. McSweeney 
Michael J. Tierney 
Martin H. O'Malley 
John J. O'Toole 
Douglas E. Ross 
Reginald R. Beal 
John W. Coughlin 
Christopher S. Sullivan 
John T. Maroney 
David Templeton 
John P. Kane 
William Moynihan 
Harold S. Bandura 
Willis W. Holt 



SUPPLY SERGEANTS 

Clinton, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

MESS SERGEANTS 

Brookfield, Mass. 
Clinton, Mass. 

SERGEANTS 

Clinton, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

Stone Street, Clinton, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. (Died in service) 

147 Oak Street, Clinton, Mass. 

Cohasset, Mass. (Died in service) 

17 Jersey Avenue, Braintree, Mass. 

9 Oak Street, Cohasset, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

66 Main Street, Hull, Mass. 

Hall Street, North Cohasset, Mass. 

45 Olney Street, Dorchester, Mass. 

3 Stanley Street, Worcester, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

8 Valley Beach Avenue, Hull, Mass. 

Cohasset, Mass. 

10 High Street, Maynard, Mass. 

24 Parker Avenue, Cohasset, Mass. 

325 Main Street, Hingham, Mass. 



101 st INFANTRY 



179 



CORPORALS 

Clinton, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

Grove Street, Clinton, Mass. 

Oak Street, Clinton, Mass. 

20 Harrington Street, Revere, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

Greeley Street, Clinton, Mass. 



Michael A. Schofield 
Erhardt E. Vattes 
Henry H. McCullough 
Alfred E. Kittila 
Patrick F. Purcell 
Christopher C. Joyce 
Harold C. Beer 
Thomas J. McDonald 

19 off Shawmut Street, East Weymouth, Mass 
Lawrence N. Litchfield 40 High Street, North Scituate, Mass 



Augustine W. Norris 
Michael R. Keating 
Frank L. Damon 
Lemuel A. Dill 
Michael A. McKeigue 
Albert T. White 
James F. O'Toole 
Lincoln Bouve 
John Q. Knowles 
Reginald Bates 
James A. Creswell 
*George R. Wright 
Raymond A. Gunnerson 



149 Main Street, Hingham, Mass. 

61 Fort Hill, Hingham 

80 South Street, Hingham 

Hingham, Mass. 

48 Templeton Street, Dorchester, Mass. 

115 Linden Road, Melrose 

Clinton, Mass. 

2 Cottage Street, Hingham 

Hull, Mass. 

Highland Street, Clinton, Mass. 

5 North Street, Hingham, Mass. 

(Died in service) Braintree, Mass. 

Atlantic Avenue, Hull, Mass. 



*Alexander R. Borland 

(Died in service) Weir Street, Hingham, Mass. 

Hull, Mass. 

Lancaster, Mass. 

Fresh River Avenue, Hingham, Mass. 

North Main Street, Cohasset, Mass. 

Hanover Center, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

44 Flag Street, Clinton, Mass. 

140 Pleasant Street, Leominster, Mass. 

Abington, Mass. 

15 Ash Street, Clinton, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

30 Union Street, Cambridge, Mass. 

Oak Street, Clinton, Mass. 



Arthur G. Irwin 
Alfred D. Heald 
Edward Collins 
Dudley C. Goodwin 
Roland T. Phillips 
Hugh W. Hanna 
Alfred Langlois 
John D. Mahan 
Edward Martin 
Francis J. Maypother 
Clarence A. McCracken 
Patrick J. McDevitt 
Eugene L. Moisan 



180 



DEAR OLD "K" 



Raymond A. Murphy 
James W. Pender 
Eugene J. Scanlon 
James R. Ramsey 
*John J. Savage 
Ray A. Scott 
Edward R. Sullivan 
Herbert L. Bailey 
James A. Brickett 
Henry M. Ellis 
Richard A. Cronin 
Walter B. Ducca 
Harry Fekkes 
Alfred A. Hall 
James T. Noonan 
George Schobert 
Roy H. Snaith 
Walter J. Studley 
Theodore R. Manuell 
Alpheus J. Ward 
Howard Beal 
Lester Fey 
Nathan Fowler 
Branan Jacobs 



3 Myrtle Street, Watertown, Mass. 

10 Dervin Place, Clinton, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

18 Ship Street, Hingham, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. (Died in service) 

735 Plymouth Street, Arlington, Mass. 

High Street, Clinton, Mass. 

99 Temple Street, North Abington, Mass. 

60 State Street, Boston 

10 Highland Avenue, Onset, Mass. 

Lyman Road, Milton, Mass. 

14 Grove Street, East Weymouth 

21 Green Street, Hingham, Mass. 
3 Martin's Lane, Hingham, Mass. 
6 Central Street, Hingham, Mass. 

22 Branch Street, Clinton, Mass. 
31 Bigelow Street, Quincy, Mass. 

Circuit Street, West Hanover, Mass. 

109 High Street, East Weymouth, Mass. 

27 Bromley Park, Roxbury 

Hull Street, North Cohasset, Mass. 

263 Hosea Avenue, Clifton (Cincinnati, O.) 

Oak Grove, Ark. 



COOKS 

Wesley R. Cooper North Street, Champlain, N. Y. 

Frederick T. Morel 

29 Blanchard Street, Pottersville-Somerset, Mass. 
Robert Stewart Acre Street, Clinton, Mass. 

William Blackledge 1817 East Willard Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
Joseph Casey 21 Hanson Street, Boston, Mass. 



Thomas Wallace 
George H. O'Malley 
Frank G. Mullen 
William G. Young 
John H. Gibbons 



MECHANICS 

Main Street, Clinton, Mass. 

Walker Place, Clinton, Mass. 

207 Pleasant Street, Milton, Mass. 

42 Branch Street, Clinton, Mass. 

Clark Street, Clinton, Mass. 



101st INFANTRY 



181 



Thomas A. Hamilton 
Charles Hoffman 
Edward F. Safford 
Amasa H. Grovenor 



*Edwix Armstrong 
Howard J. Alexander 
George Andrews 
Theodore Arst 
Seth O. Bailey 
Raymond A. Bates 
William F. Baer 
Henry E. Bearce 
William J. Bergin 
William D. Blessing 
Albert E. Bruce 
Harry E. Bodman 
Ernest C. Bryan 
Arthur Burgess 
Patrick J. Burns 
William Burgwinkel 
Walter F. Bowler 
Leo Batcheldor 
Frank Budnak 
Everett W. Bailey 
Carl H. Bjorkman 
James A. Brickett 
Ralph M. Brickett 
Adelbert Bresnahan 
William J. Bolia 
Orville J. Brown 
Harold F. Barnes 
Mateo Bellotti 
William G. Baer 
Albin Bjorklund 
James F. Boylan 
William H. Brown 



BUGLERS 

Clinton, Mass. 

124 West Barnes Street, Napoleon, O. 

Lancaster, Mass. 

R. F. D. No. 1, Hingham, Mass. 

PRIVATES 

Clinton, Mass. (Died in service) 

R. F. D. No. 1, Orchard, Wash. 

51 Washington Street, Clinton, Mass. 

North Street, Tekoa, Wash. 

99 Temple Street, North Abington, Mass. 

North Street, Notre Dame du Grace, P. E. I. 

Clinton, Mass. 

651 East Fourth Street, South Boston, Mass. 

R. F. D. No. 1, Yna, Va. 

54 Parkway, Chelsea, Mass. 

North Street, Atlantic, Mass. 

41 Pearl Street, North Weymouth, Mass. 

174 Columbia Street, Cambridge, Mass. 

Ill Beach Street, Clinton, Mass. 

7996 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, Mass. 

76 Wright Street, Stoneham, Mass. 

9923 Ressemere Avenue, Cleveland, O. 

Lancaster, Mass. 

19 Oak Street, East Braintree, Mass. 

60 State Street, Boston, Mass. 

North Cohasset, Mass. 

North Street, Hingham, Mass. 

Clark Street, Clinton, Mass. 

R. F. D. No. 1, Bland. Va. 

North Main Street, Cohasset, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

116 Orange Street, Clinton, Mass. 

Weir Street, Hingham, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 



182 



DEAR OLD "K" 



James W. Blanchflower 972 Main Street, Clinton, Mass. 

*James F. Bruce 

(Died in service) 24 Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Roxbury, Mass. 
John B. Buckley 
Maurice Burns 
Winfield L. Bailey 
Fred W. Canaday 
John H. Cline 
Joseph L. Cull 
Michael Cunningham 

113 Commercial Street, East Weymouth, Mass. 



42 Guild Street, Roxbury, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

99 Temple Street, North Abington, Mass. 

708 East 4th Street, Greenville, O. 

R. F. D. No. 2, Mineral Wells, Texas 

66 George Street, Rockland, Mass. 



William R. Crothers 
Lester R. Curtis 
Herbert J. Cresswell 
John M. Curtis 
Ellsworth Curtis 
Leo P. Clark 
Clare E. Crites 
Joseph W. Cohen 
William B. Carlson 
James W. Crowley 
Ralph T. Cipullo 
John M. Clougherty 
Patrick J. Colbert 
Charles E. Cuneo 
Rock T. Commings 
Henry F. Casey 
Roy N. Coons 
Robert E. Christy 
Thomas Calvert 
William C. Carney 
David L. Cohen 
Leon W. Chaffee 
Alfred W. Cadman 
William S. Cole 
William E. Condrick 
*James Connelly 
John D. Cleary 
John Carroa 



Clinton, Mass. 

6 Whiting Street, Rockland, Mass. 

Box 277, Quincy, Mass. 

North Main Street, Cohasset, Mass. 

28 Ashmont Street, East Weymouth, Mass. 

R. F. D. No. 4, Paulding, O. 

Tuscarawas, O. 

16 Nahant Avenue, Revere, Mass. 

Kent, Wash. 

107 Sawyer Avenue, Dorchester, Mass. 

104 Lake Street, East Weymouth, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

425 West Broadway, Boston, Mass. 

211 Keyes Avenue, Tampa, Fla. 

R. F. D. No. 2, Ashtabula, O. 

Clinton, Mass. 

15 Grove Street, Clinton, Mass. 

North Street, Dayton, Wash. 

R. F. D. No. 5, Carlisle, Ky. 

1126 East 41st Street, Cleveland, O. 

3125 Orange Avenue, Cleveland, O. 

524 Howard Avenue, New Haven, Conn. 

52 Norton Street, North Weymouth, Mass. 

96 Hancock Street, Dorchester, Mass. 

177 Broad Street, Weymouth, Mass. 

(Died in service) 

625 Main Street, Worcester, Mass. 

Brooklyn, New York 



"Ernest Campbell, (Died in service) Hersey Street, Hingham, Mass. 



101 st INFANTRY 



183 



Angelo P. D'Allessio 649 4th Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Ernest J. Davidson 

15 East Commercial Street, East Weymouth, Mass. 



Edward DeYoung 

DONATO DlVERITA 

William L. Draper 
Robert E. Dowling 
Robert E. Dunn 
John Dunn 
Paul L. Druffell 
George F. Duggan 
George Dixon 
Harry Douglas 



67 Factory Hill, East Braintree, Mass. 

Gleatto, Italy (father) 

130 High Street, East Weymouth, Mass. 

North Street, Rosalia, Wash. 

79 Rockland Street, Abington, Mass. 

43 North Street, Hingham, Mass. 

Colton, Wash. 

Clinton, Mass. 

3424 Colerlamb Avenue, Cincinnati, O. 

R. F. D. No. 1, Morrow, O. 



*Ralph W. Douglas 

(Died in service) 140 West Water Street, Rockland, Mass. 



Walter B. Ducca 
John H. Devoid 

*WlLLIAM J. DUNPHY 

Edward G. Ehlert 
*Leo Ellery 
Ernest W. Erickson 
Richard I. Eaton 
Jerome Ferrigno 
Walter R. Ferguson 
John P. Flynn 



14 Grove Street, East Weymouth, Mass. 

Dorchester, Mass. (Died in service) 
9622 Yekel Avenue, Cleveland, O. 
(Died in service) 
Rosalia, Wash. 
Hingham, Mass. 
407 West 38th Street, New York City 
R. F. D. No. 3, Peebles, O. 
Front Street, Clinton, Mass. 
Andrew J. Franklin North Street, Mechanicsburg, Va., c/o Songen 

R. F. D. No. 1, Clarksburg, W. Va. 
Main Street, Clinton, Mass. 

51 Story Street, Pawtucket, R. I. 
5 School Street, Rockland, Mass. 

52 Main Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
727 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
226 Tremont Street, Roxbury, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

65 Birch Street, Clinton, Mass. 

301 Boyer Avenue, Walla Walla, Wash. 

Acre Street, Clinton, Mass. 



Mike Flannagan 
James H. Freeman 
Philip J. Feeley 
Alexander E. Fluet 
Michael Gadliardi 
Matthew Gawinski 
Francis J. Gauthier 
Louis P. Giacoumis 
Walter A. Gutman 
Ernest Gingerich 
John A. Grady 
Milburn Green 
Edward J. Gannon 
Emile O. Gersch 



Clinton, Mass. 
24I/2 Oak Street, Clinton, Mass. 



184 



DEAR OLD "K" 



Richard F. Guenther 
Joseph H. Gillis 
William D. Goyette 
Asa H. Gordon 
Edward J. Gibbons 
Bennie Gatlin 
Bernhardt Goebel 
Stephen J. Grassie 
Thomas F. Hannon 
Arthur Hagen 
*Rudolph J. Hajek 
John W. Hawkins 
Chester E. Howes 
Robert E. Hunt 
Treece Hunt 
Vernon Henderson 
William Henson 
Harry W. Hill 
*Edward Howell 
Flay Henson 
Timothy F. Hanifan 
Willie Hendry 
Frank Howorth 
Oscar Howland 
Harvey H. Herzig 
Ernest J. Hopfman 
Harry M. Hawkins 
Ervin J. Heinzelman 
Herbert W. Hamilton 
Harold P. Hayden 
Browny Hanson 
Alva S. Hodson 
Philip F. Hoban 
Martin E. Hubelle 
William A. Holbrook 
John Ingersoll 
Frank Jakubousky 
Clare E. Josselyn 
*Leon W. Josselyn 



Clinton, Mass. 

40 Tuttle Street, Dorchester, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

44 West Street, Clinton, Mass. 

241 North Avenue, Rockland, Mass. 



65 Birch Street, Clinton, Mass. 

Cohasset, Mass. 

46 Belmont Street, Rockland, Mass. 

2205 East Water Street, Duluth, Minn. 

(Died in service) Grundy Co., Coal City, 111. 

R. F. D. No. 1, New Waterford, Conn. 

13411 Shaw Avenue, Cleveland, O. 

Lancaster, Mass. 

1305 East Elm Street, Lima, O., c/o Flick 

Washington Street, Hanover, Mass. 

R. F. D. No. 2, Ringgold, Ga. 

King Street, West Hanover, Mass. 

(Died in service) 

R. F. D. No. 3, Troy, Texas, c/o Rulls 

7 Shawmut Street, East Weymouth, Mass. 

North Street, Starke, Fla., c/o Howe 

R. F. D., Plainville, Tenn. 

North Street, Bentonville, O., c/o Tumbleston 

Griswoldville, Mass. 

24 William Street, Clinton 

R. F. D. No. 1, Unionport, O. 

305 Splicer Street, Akron, O. 

Clinton, Mass. 

Adams Street, Holbrook, Mass. 

1324 South Arch Street, Alliance, O. 

15 Nershal Street, East Peoria, 111. 

Front Street, Clinton, Mass. 

R. F. D. No. 1, Carmi, 111. 

40 Broad Street, East Weymouth, Mass. 

344 West 7th Street, Jacksonville, Fla. 

10914 Buckley Road, Cleveland, O. 

45 School Street, West Hanover, Mass. 

(Died in service) 



101 st INFANTRY 



185 



Dumas W. Jones 
Nels B. Johnson 
James G. Jeffery 
George A. Jobe 
Ernest A. Joesting 
Luke L. T. Kelly 
Frank Korabek 
Thomas Kerrigan 
Harold E. Keefe 
Henry B. Kennedy 
John J. Kelly 
Michael Kopkas 
James M. King 
Arthur L. King 
Herbert Kelley 
Francis B. Krause 
Charles R. Keddy 
Fred Jackson 
Herbert C. Kingsbury 
*William J. Johnson 

* James R. Kirby 
John H. Kittredge 
William Kelliher 
Lawrence H. Kibby 
Maurice A. Lowe 
Domonic E. Lepore 
Sam Lebowetz 
Joseph LaFlamme 
Walter E. Litchfield 
Blake C. Lance 
Wilbur E. Larkin 
Hugh G. Le.ieal 
Stanley F. Lane 
Maurice Lowe 
Elmer Lewis 
Augustine J. Ledwell 
Harold L. Leard 
William E. Leslie 



614 State Street, Lawrenceville, 111. 

Benton, O. 

Mammoth Springs, Ark. 

308 North 2d Street, Walla Walla, Wash. 

2623 Hyde Street, San Francisco, Cal. 

10935 Grant Street, Cleveland, O. 

8 Harbor Street, Worcester, Mass. 

56 Bourne Street, Jamaica Plain, Mass. 

23 Short Street, Cohasset, Mass. 

2664 Woodhill Road, Cleveland, O. 

28 Fairmount Street, Clinton, Mass. 

Rigley Street, Clinton, Mass. 

337 North Columbia Street, Crestline, O. 

5 Fort Hill Street, Hingham, Mass. 

P. O. Box 24, Barre, Mass. 

858 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass. 

(Died in service) 

37 Madison Street, East Weymouth, Mass. 

(Died in service) Clinton, Mass. 

12 Lidge Court, Clinton, Mass. 

Boylston Street, Clinton, Mass. 

148 Warren Street, Roxbury, Mass. 

West Street, Clinton, Mass. 

1 Fairview Street, Clinton, Mass. 

2394 East 39th Street, Cleveland, O. 

485 Main Street, Manchester, N. H. 

106 Lincoln Street, North Abington, Mass. 

R. F. D. No. 5, Medina, O. 

Berlin, Mass. 

1209 Hyde Street, San Francisco, Cal. 

North Street, Hingham, Mass. 

70 Hovey Street, Watertown, Mass. 

1046 Alvendo Terrace, Walla Walla, Wash. 

129 Concord Street, Rockland, Mass. 

10 Emerson Road, Worcester, Mass. 

1050 South Frazier Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 



186 



DEAR OLD "K" 



William F. Litchfield 
John J. McKenzie 
Roy G. McKenzie 
Daniel J. McDonald 
Lester I. Morse 
Harold R. Morse 
Michael J. Madden 
Defrehn Muir 
Richard C. Marshall 
Peter J. McGee 
Green J. McGriff 
James P. McKenna 
Frank L. McHenry 
Joseph E. Maxwell 
James D. Mahan 
William E. Moore 
Richard D. Medley 
John F. McCann 
Glenn S. Mitchell 
Gregorio Morabito 
George C. Morgan 
Carl C. Miller 
Ray Montgomery 
Harry D. Moran 
James C. Muse 
Joseph McCue 
Thomas Mayberry 
Michael J. McLaughlin 
John E. Magee 
Peruda V. Maudsly 
Willie Mueller 
Floyd L. Meek 
Charles Marriott 
Joseph W. Munroe 
Walter Maddox 
George C. Martin 
Stanley M. McLeod 
Hamilton F. Miner 
Paul L. Mansfield 



10 Holart Street, Hingham Center, Mass. 

1 1 Canterbury Street, North Cohasset, Mass. 

North Street, Shubenaradle, N. S., Canada 

45 Front Street, Quincy, Mass. 

North Street, Hingham, Mass. 

11 North Street, Hingham, Mass. 

Front Street, Clinton, Mass. 

106th Street, Perrysburg, O. 

26 Wyeth Street, Maiden, Mass. 

North Street, Live Oak, Fla. 

163 2d Avenue, L. I. City, N. Y. 

208 Bruce Street, Lawrence, Mass. 

R. F. D. No. 1, Hammersville, O. 

179 Pleasant Street, Clinton, Mass. 

R. F. D. No. 5, Kenbridge, Va. 

15 Ainwood Circle, Cambridge, Mass. 

Grove Street, Clinton, Mass. 

R. F. D. No. 3, Avon, 111. 

St. Stephens Province, Reggia, Italy 

R. F. D. No. 2, Greenbay, Va. 

North Street, Mountpelier, Williams County, O. 

R. F. D. No. 1, Newton Falls, O. 

30 West Street, Clinton, Mass. 

North Street, Sanford, Fla. 

390 Bamford Street, St. Paul, Minn. 

Clinton, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

83 Adams Street, Dorchester, Mass. 

North Street, Durham, N. H. 

North Street, Cylinder, la. 

585 Leonard Street, Toledo, O. 

7 Fifth Street, Perrysburg, O. 

Grove Street, Clinton, Mass. 

Jackson, Fla. 

117 Pearl Street, Clinton, Mass. 

274 Bridge Street, North Weymouth, Mass. 

41 Pilgrim Road, Boston, Mass. 



101 st INFANTRY 



187 



Joseph L. McKenna 
George A. McKenzie 

*EvERETT H. MlNIGAN 

James Minigan 
Harry D. Moran 
James H. Mohan 
*Timothy Mullen 
*Robert A. Murray, Jr 
*Charles S. Myers 
Stanton A. Newcomb 
Frederick R. Murdoch 
Lawrence F. Nugent 
Walter J. O'Malley 
George V. O'Sullivan 
Patrick J. O'Neil 
John T. O'Loughlin 
Frank Polawski 
Maurice C. Powers 
Harry Palmer 
Alva Poe 
Homer Pritchett 
Leo Peckham 
John C. Pafford 
William H. Pitts 
Irving H. Packard 
Michael Quigg 
Philip J. Feeley 
John R. Quilty 
Thomas F. Queeney 
Alfred Quilty 
Avery G. Rafuse 
Leon C. Roby 
Edgar Rogers 
Joseph T. Ross S 

Michael J. Ryan 
Austin Ryder 
Frank G. Rempe 
David Rome 
John T. Rothwell 



30 St. Stephen Street, Boston, Mass. 

12 Water Street, Hingham, Mass. 

(Died in service) South Lancaster, Mass. 

South Lancaster, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

High Street, Clinton, Mass. 

(Died in service) Watertown, Mass. 

(Died in service) 

(Died in service) 

68 Putnam Street, East Weymouth, Mass. 

17 Cross Street, Palmer, Mass. 
46 Madison Street, East Weymouth, Mass. 

Oak Street, Clinton, Mass. 

Worcester, Mass. 

215 L Street, South Boston, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

106 South Kinwood Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 

14 Pleasant Avenue, Boston 

Antioch, 111. 

North Street, Palmer, 111. 

North Street, Freewater, Ore. 

36 Hersey Street, Hingham, Mass. 

11 Hobart Street, East Braintree, Mass. 

Hull, Mass. 

112 Washington Street, Weymouth, Mass. 

7 Lent Street, Corona, L. I., N. Y. 

32 Ashwood Street, Worcester, Mass. 

38 Topliff Street, Dorchester, Mass. 

42 Norfolk Avenue, Roxbury, Mass. 

13 Bowdoin Street, Boston, Mass. 

190 Wilder Street, Lowell, Mass. 

North Street, Plant City, Fla. 

18 Bay View Avenue, Great Hills, L. L, N. Y. 

26 Camp Street, Worcester, Mass. 

18 Gage Street, Clinton, Mass. 
959 25th Street, Oakland, Cal. 

R. F. D., Rockland, Mass. 
North Street, Frenchburg, Ky. 



188 



DEAR OLD "K" 



Jerry Scorese 
Bernard T. Rash 
Philip Schlist 32 

Michael Scuria 
Joseph F. Shea 
William Seegmiller 
John B. Sheehan 
Isidore Silverman 
Donald E. Studley 
Graziaso Scagni 
David Spitz 
Joseph F. Sullivan 
Hiram D. Strothers 
Frank E. Shelton 
Edward Sheldon 
John H. Shively 
Anthony Sczphowski 
David H. Shawver 
Seth C. Sprague 
Paul W. Smith 
Howard H. Sinclair 
Francis L. Smith 
Clarence S. Swett 
Arazio Strano 
Michael A. Suszynski 
William L. Tooher 
Calvert Thomas 
Ben Tomkins 
Vincent Tedeschi 
Charles Tese 
Joseph Testevarde 
Joseph F. Trainor 
Charles A. Trerotola 
Elmer L. Tatman 
Thomas J. Terry 
Frederic C. Thayer 
Herbert J. Trautner 
James E. Threlfall 
George Uher 



4356 East 120th Street, New York City- 
Oak Street, Clinton, Mass. 
30 North Central Park Avenue, Chicago, 111. 
232 East 10th Street, New York City 
2 Akron Street, Roxbury, Mass. 
521 East 150th Street, New York City 
8 Bradford Avenue, Medford, Mass. 

17 Trafford Street, Quincy, Mass. 

39 Webster Street, Springfield, Mass. 

326 Sixteenth Street, West, New York City 

North Street, Bristol, W. Va. 

North Street, Freewater, Ore. 

234 North Street, Rockland, Mass. 

North Street, Bradford, O. 

65 Elm Street, Hartford, Conn. 

345 East Birch Street, Walla Walla, Wash. 

981 Bedford Street, North Abington, Mass. 

29 Fields Street, Boston, Mass. 

South Lancaster, Mass. 

1059 Union Street, Rockland, Mass. 

Musca Province, Catania, Italy 
622 North Main Street, Brockton, Mass. 
18 Wharf Street, East Weymouth, Mass. 

1062 B Street, Corvallis, Ore. 

133 29th Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

301 East 115th Street, New York City 

645 39th Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

1455 Fifth Avenue, New York City 

315 East 115th Street, New York City 

Main Street, West Groton, Mass. 

269 Middle Street, East Weymouth, Mass. 

219 Washington Street, Braintree, Mass. 

Clinton, Mass. 

Hersey Street, Hingham, Mass. 

110/2 Hilda Avenue, Cleveland, O. 



1 1 s t INFANTRY 



189 



William Vallery 
Gordon L. Van Pelt 
Allen P. Vining 
George A. Ward 
Richard E. Weschrob 
Bryan J. Waldron 
Peter F. Washington 
Dennic C. Wright 
John I. Welch 
William H. Warters 
Chester A. Williams 
Baxter Wallace 
Earl J. Webb 
Michael Weltz 
John H. Williams 
Prank J. Zeolie 

* Died in service. 



94 Winsor Street, Hartford, Conn. 

102 Cannon Avenue. Lincolnville, N. Y. 

28 Willard Street, East Braintree, Mass. 

Roxbury, Mass. 

279 Colburn Street, East Dedham, Mass. 

R. F. D. No. 3. Wayeross, Ga. 

2533 East 16th Street, Brooklyn. N. Y. 

North Street, Pine Grove, West Va. 

North Street. Jamaica, 111. 

17 River Street, Braintree, Mass. 

North Street, Helena. Ark. 

R. F. D. No. 2. Noxapater. Miss. 

North Street, Lamberton, Pa. 

206 Fulton Street, Clinton. 111. 

80 Hiffli Street, East Wevmouth. Mass. 



190 DEAR OLD "K" 



INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT "K" 

Members of "K" Who Were Commissioned from the Ranks While 

in France 

Ralph A. Tyler 2d Lieutenant 

William L. Roach 2d Lieutenant 

John H. Hastings 2d Lieutenant 

Howard J. Cummings 2d Lieutenant 

Ralph M. Brickett 2d Lieutenant 

Martin H. O'Malley 1st Lieutenant 
James T. Duane Captain 

Members of "K" Who Returned to the United States as Instructors 

George G. Moyse 1st Lieutenant 

Edgar R. Densmore 1st Lieutenant 

Neal H. Fisher 2d Lieutenant 

Donald S. Francis 2d Lieutenant 

Albert S. Lane 2d Lieutenant 

George A. Corbin 1st Lieutenant 

John F. A. Melledy 1st Sergeant 

Paul L. Devaney Supply Sergeant 

Members of "K" Who Won Decorations 

Douglas Ross Distinguished Service Cross 

James F. O'Toole Croix de Guerre 

Edward W. Brady Croix de Guerre 

Herbert L. Bailey Croix de Guerre 

Adelbert Bresnehan Croix de Guerre 

Francis J. Maypother Croix de Guerre 

John J. McKenzie Croix de Guerre 

A large number of the members of "K" received Divisional Cita- 
tions, but no complete list is available. Also, a large number of "K" 
were recommended for both French and American decorations, but 
through an unfortunate red-tape system, they were deprived of these 
honors. 



1 1 st I NF ANT R Y 191 



INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE 26th DIVISION OF 
WHICH "K" WAS A PART 

The 26th Division is perpetuating the memory and glorious 
deeds of 

2,135 
of its members who answered the immortal roll call while in service. 

Prisoners Captured by the 26th Division 
Officers, 61; Other Ranks, 3,088; Total, 3,149. 

Total Casualties of the Division in Battle 
11,536 

German Material Captured 
31 pieces of Field Artillery 
23 pieces of Trench Artillery 
163 Machine-Guns 
830 Rifles 

This is simply the recorded list, but does not fully account for 
all material, for the Division captured a tremendous amount of 
material which it was necessary to abandon on account of advancing. 

The 101st Infantry captured the first gun position of the large 
gun which had been firing on Paris (Big Bertha). The gun had been 
almost completely removed. The position was made of solid cement 
walls and floors measuring about four feet in thickness. 

The 26th Division was the first American unit organized as a 
Division in the United States and transported complete to France. 

It was the First National Guard unit to land on French soil, 
and the 101st Infantry was the First National Guard Regiment to 
land on foreign soil. 

The Division spent 210 days in the front lines. 

The Division had only ten days of rest from February 6th, 1918, 
the date of its entrance into the lines at Chemin des Dames, until 
November 11th, 1918, the date of the signing of the armistice. All 
time between these dates not spent in the lines was occupied by 
moving from one front to another. 



192 DEAR OLD "K" 

A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE WORK OF THE DIVISION 

The first units of the Yankee Division sailed from Hoboken, 
New Jersey, on September 7th, 1917, and landed in St. Nazaire, 
France, on September 20th, 1917. The Division remained in the 
training area, with headquarters in Neufchateau, about four months, 
during which period details of troops were engaged in constructing 
hospitals, building telephone lines, serving as labor detachments, aided 
in organizing sections in the service of supplies, and otherwise shared 
in preparation for the main army, which began to arrive after January 
1st, 1918. 

The Division entered the front line in the Chemin des Dames 
Sector February 6th, 1918, and was brigaded with the French, north 
of Soissons. It remained there until March 21st. On April 3d it 
entered "La Reine and Boucq Sector," north of Toul, and remained 
in the front line, holding the first divisional front in the American 
Army, until June 28th. 

On July 10th it entered the "Pas Fini Sector," north of Chateau- 
Thierry, which it held until July 25th. On September 8th it entered 
the Rupt and Troyon Sector, in the St. Mihiel salient, holding it until 
October 8th, and on October 18th entered the "Neptune Sector," north 
of Verdun, and it advanced to the rest area in Montigny-le-Roi, which 
it left for the Le Mans embarkation area late in January, 1919. 

Left Brest, France, March 26th-27th-28th, 1919, arriving in the 
United States, at Boston, Mass., on April 4th, 5th, 6th, 1919. 

Mustered out of the service May, 1919. 

AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES 
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 

To Departing Officers of the A. E. F. 

After honorably serving your Country in the Great War, you 
are about to embark for the homeland. Remember that the bearing 
of their officers is reflected in the behavior and discipline of the men 
you are commanding homeward bound. I most sincerely trust that 
no single act may occur to stain the splendid record won by our troops 
in Europe. My confidence and best wishes follow you and them as 
you cross the sea and in your future service in the Array or elsewhere. 

(Signed) John J. Pershing. 




Main American Cemetery, Romagne 
Under each of these 25,000 crosses lies one of our buddies 











American Cemetery at Belleau 



1 01 st I NF ANTR Y 193 

HEADQUARTERS 

"Eighth Army. June 27. 1918. 

32d Army Corps. 

Staff. 

3d Office. 

3292-3. 

"General Order No. 133 

"At the moment when the Twenty-Sixth Division of Infantry of 
the United States is leaving the Thirty-Second French Corps, I salute 
its colors and thank it for the splendid services it has rendered here 
to the common cause. 

"Under the distinguished command of their chief, General Ed- 
wards, the high-spirited soldiers of the 'Yankee Division' have taught 
the enemy some bitter lessons: at Bois Brule, at Seicheprey, at Xivray- 
Marvoisin ; they have taught him to realize the staunch vigor of the 
sons of the great republic, fighting for the world's freedom. 

"My heartiest good wishes will accompany the 'Yankee Division' 
always, in its future combats. 

"General Passaga, 
"Commanding the Thirty-Second Army Corps, 
(signed) "Passaga." 

"Sixth Army. July 29, 1918. 

No. 2353-3. 

From: General Degoutte, commanding Sixth Army (French). 
To: General Edwards, commanding the Twenty-Sixth Division. 

"The operations carried out by Twenty-Sixth American Division 
from July 18th to July 24th demonstrated the fine soldierly qualities 
of this unit and the worth of its leader, General Edwards. 

"Cooperating in the attack north of the Marne, the Twenty-Sixth 
Division fought brilliantly on the line Torcy-Belleau, at Monthiers, 
Epieds, and Trugny and in the Forest of Fere, advancing more than 
fifteen kilometers in depth in spite of the desperate resistance of the 
enemy. 

"I take great pleasure in communicating to General Edwards 
and his valiant Division this expression of my great esteem, together 
with my heartiest congratulations for the manner in which they have 
served the common cause. 

"General Degoutte." 



194 DEAR OLD "K" 



G. H. Q. 

AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES. 
FRANCE. 

"General Orders. August 28, 1918. 

No. 143. 

"It fills me with pride to record in General Orders a tribute to 
the service and achievements of the First and Third Corps, com- 
prising the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Twenty-Sixth, Twenty- 
Eighth, Thirty-Second and Forty-Second Divisions of the American 
Expeditionary Forces. 

"You came to the battlefield at the crucial hour of the Allied 
cause. For almost four years the most formidable army the world 
had as yet seen had pressed its invasion of France and stood threaten- 
ing its capital. At no time had that army been more powerful or 
menacing than when, on July 15th, it struck again to destroy in one 
great battle the brave men opposed to it, and to enforce its brutal will 
upon the world and civilization. 

"Three days later, in conjunction with our Allies, you counter- 
attacked. The Allied armies gained a brilliant victory that marks 
the turning point of the war. You did more than give our brave 
Allies the support which as a nation our faith was pledged. You 
proved that our altruism, our pacific spirit, our sense of justice have 
not blunted our virility or our courage. You have shown that Ameri- 
can initiative and energy are as fit for the test of war as for the 
pursuits of peace. You have justly won the unstinted praise of our 
Allies and the eternal gratitude of our countrymen. 

"We have paid for our success in the lives of many of our brave 
comrades. We shall cherish their memory always, and claim for our 
history and literature their bravery, achievement and sacrifice." 



101st INFANTRY 195 



HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-SIXTH DIVISION, 
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES, 
FRANCE. 
"General Orders. 
No. 93. 

"2. The following tribute to the Division is published for the 
information of all concerned: 

"HEADQUARTERS 

"Seventeenth Army Corps. October 24, 1918. 

Staff. First Bureau. 

From: General Claudel, commanding the Seventh Army Corps 

(French). 

To: The Commanding General, Twenty-Sixth Division. 

"General — The reputation of your Division preceded it here far 
ahead. 

"To all its titles of glory gained in fierce struggles, and only 
recently at the signal of Hattonchatel, it has added on the 23d day 
of October a page which perhaps is more modest, but still does it 
great honor. 

"In a few hours, as at a maneuver, it has gained all the objectives 
assigned to it in the difficult sector of the woods of Houppy, Etrayes, 
and Belleau. 

"This operation is evidence, indeed, of superior instruction, 
mobility, and will. 

"I do not know how to thank you sufficiently for your assistance, 
dear general, and it is my great desire to express to you all our 
grateful admiration for your splendid Division, which thus has added 
its name to all of those who fought to hurl the enemy back from the 
outskirts of Verdun. 

"C. R. Edwards, "H. Claudel." 

"Major-General, Commanding." 



196 DEAR OLD "K" 



HEADQUARTERS FIRST ARMY 

AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES, 

FRANCE. 

December 20, 1918. 
From: Chief of Staff, First Army, A. E. F. 
To: Commanding General, Twenty-Sixth Division, A. E. F. 
Subject: Visit of President of the United States. 

1. The Army Commander desires me to inform you that, on the 
recommendation of the commander-in-chief, the President has selected 
the Twenty-Sixth Division as being the division he will visit on 
Christmas Day. This selection was made on the ground that the 
Twenty-Sixth Division had the longest period of service in France. 

2. The Army Commander desires that you be present at the 
Presidential review at Humes, which is to start at 10.30 a. m., on 
December 25th, 1918, so that you may conduct the President from 
the review ground to such town or towns in your area as he may desire 
to visit. The Army Commander desires me to say that all organiza- 
tions in the area should be prepared for this visit, billets properly 
policed, and men lined up outside of same awaiting the arrival of the 
President. He also desires that the non-commissioned officers in 
charge of quarters be ready and on the alert to precede the President 
and the commander-in-chief into such billets as they may desire to 
inspect. 

3. The President has expressed a desire to eat Christmas dinner 
with the men, and to that end it is directed that you select some 
organization which the President and his party can visit at dinner 
time and eat the soldiers' dinner with the men. In the party it is 
estimated that there will be somewhere in the neighborhood of forty 
persons. 

H. A. Drum, 
Official. Chief of Staff. 

Laurence Halstead, 
Colonel, General Staff, 
A. C. of S., G3. 



a w 




mm Ei 




A. E. F. POEMS 

I LOVE CORNED BEEF 

I love corned beef; I never knew 
How good the stuff could taste in stew ; 
I love it wet, I love it dry, 
I love it baked and called meat pie ; 
I love it camouflaged in hash, 
A hundred bucks I'd give — in cash — 
To have a barrel of such chow 
A-standing here before me now ; 
I say YUM YUM when soupie blows, 
I sniff and raise aloft my nose, 
CORNED WILLIE ! Ha, Oh, Boy, that's fine; 
Can hardly keep my place in line. 
I kick my heels and wildly yell, 
"Old Sherman said that 'WAR IS HELL,' " 
But GLADLY would I bear the heat, 
If corned beef I could get to eat. 
I love it HOT, I love it Cold, 
Corned Willie never will grow old; 
I love it — now PAUSE, listen, friend, 
When to this war there comes an end, 
And Peace upon the earth shall reign, 
I'll hop a boat for home again. 
Then to a restaurant I'll speed, 
No dainty manners will I heed, 
But to the waiter I will cry, 
"Bring me — well, make it corned beef pie, 
And — better bring some corned beef STEW — 
And Corned Beef Cold, I'll take that, too; 
And — now don't think I'm crazy, man, 
But could you bring a corned beef can? 
And wait, I'm not through ordering yet. 
I want a sirloin steak, you bet, 
19T 



198 DEAR OLD "K" 

With hash-browned spuds — now listen, friend, 

I've got the cash, you may depend. 

Right here it is; let's see, I'll try — 

Oh, bring a piece of hot mince pie. 

And all this stuff that's printed here, 

My appetite is HUGE I fear." 

Then, when he's filled my festive board, 

With all these eats, I'll thank the Lord 

(For that's the proper thing to do) 

And then I'll take the corned beef stew, 

The corned beef pie and corned beef cold, 

The corned beef can I'll then take hold, 

And ram the whole works into it 

And say, "NOW, damn you, there you'll sit; 

You've haunted every dream I've had, 

You don't know what shame IS, egad ! 

Now SIT there, Bo. See how you Feel — 

And watch me eat a REG'LAR meal." A. P. B. 



Courtesy Stars and Stripes 



101st INFANTRY 199 



DO YOU KNOW THIS GUY? 

One hears at sound of Reveille, 

Straight through till Taps is blown, 
Gimme, lemme take yer razor, 

Have you got a sou to loan? 
Or maybe "Gosh, I lost my towel; 

Lemme take yours, will you, Bill?" 
Have you got some extra "Sunkums?" 

I wanna wet me gill. 

All through the day it's e'er the same, 

Week in, week out. Say, Bo, 
I'm just a few francs shy today; 

Wot's chances for a throw? 
You know me, Al, me woid's me bond, 

I've never stuck a pal, 
But I simply gotta keep that date 

Or hunt another gal. 

Have you an extra undershirt? 

The Major's gonna see 
What makes the men so nervous-like, 

And scratch so frequently. 
I'm gonna promenade ce soir, 

Lemme take your new puttees ; 
Aw, mine's been muddy for a week, 

Loose up, yuh tight ol' cheese. 

I don't know where me money goes, 

It takes the prize for speed, 
The next day after we've been paid, 

Can't buy a punk French weed. 
Next month I'll have to slacken up 

Or jump into the lake, 
But till that old ghost walks again, 

It's gimme, lemme take. 

Frank Eisenberg, Pvt. Tel. Bn. 

Courtesy Stars and Stripes 



200 DEAR OLD "K" 



REVEILLE 



Get up, get up, you sleepy head, 

And grab your socks and trou; 
Get up, get up, get out of bed, 

You're in the Army now. 

Get up, get up, you carrion beast, 

Get up and dig for chow ; 
It doesn't matter what you think, 

You're in the Army now. 

Get up and powder, rouge, and curl, 

And dress — no matter how, 
But don't be late for Reveille, 

You're in the Army now. 

Get up, you foozle ninny boob, 

There's eggs and cheese and ham 
(For officers) and slum for you, 

You slave of Uncle Sam. 

But don't you fret or don't you fume, 

For honest Injun, how 
Would you have felt if you were not 

In Uncle's Army now? 

Ray L. Huff, Pvt. M.D. 
Courtesy Stars and Stripes 



101st INFANTRY 201 



JUST THINKIN' 



Standin' up here on the fire-step, 

Lookin' ahead in the mist, 
With a tin hat over your ivory, 

And a rifle clutched in your fist, 
Waitin' and watchin' and wonderin' 

If the Hun's comin' over to-night — 
Say, ain't the things you think of 

Enough to give you a fright? 

Things you ain't even thought of 

For a couple of months or more, 
Things that '11 set you laughin' ; 

Things that '11 make you sore ; 
Things that you saw in the movies, 

Things that you saw on the street, 
Things that you're really proud of, 

Things that are not so sweet. 

Debts that are past collecting 

Stories you hear and forget, 
Ball games and birthday parties, 

Hours of drill in the wet, 
Headlines recruitin' posters, 

Sunsets 'way out at sea, 
Evenings of pay days — golly, 

It's a queer thing, this memory ! 

Faces of pals in Homeburg, 

Voices of women folk, 
Verses you learnt in schooldays, 

Pop up in the mist and smoke, 
As you stand there, grippin' that rifle, 

A-starin', and chilled to the bone, 
Wonderin' and wonderin' and wonderin', 

Just thinkin' there — all alone. 



202 DEAR OLD "K" 

When will the war be over ? 

When will the gang break through ? 
What will the U. S. look like? 

What will there be to do? 
Where will the Boches be then? 

Who will have married Nell? 
When's that relief a-comin' up ? 

Gosh! But this thinkin's hell! 

Hudson Hawley, Pvt. M. G. Bn. 

Courtesy Stars and Stripes 



101st INFANTRY 203 



"WHO SAID SUNNY FRANCE?" 

It lies on your blankets and over your bed, 
There's mud in the cover that covers your head, 
There's mud in the coffee, the slum, and the bread, 
Sunny France. 

There's mud in your eyebrows, there's mud up your nose, 
There's mud on your leggins to add to your woes, 
The mud in your boots finds its place 'twixt your toes, 
Sunny France. 

Oh, the grimy mud, the slimy mud, the mud that makes you swear, 
The cheesy mud, the greasy mud, that filters through your hair. 

You sleep in the mud, and drink it, that's true, 
There's mud in the bacon, the rice, and the stew; 
When you open an egg, you'll find mud in it too, 
Sunny France. 

There's mud in the water, there's mud in the tea, 
There's mud in your mess-kit as thick as can be ; 
It sticks to your fingers like leaves to a tree — 
Sunny France. 

Oh, the ruddy mud, the muddy mud, the mud that gets your goat, 
The sliding mud, the gliding mud, that sprays your pants and coat. 

It cakes in your mouth till you feel like an ox, 
It slips down your back and it rests in your socks ; 
You think that you're walking on cut-glass and rocks, 
Sunny France. 

There's mud in your gas mask, there's mud in your hat, 
There's mud in your helmet, there's mud on your gat; 
Yet though mud's all 'round us, we're happy at that — 
Sunny France. 

Oh, the dank, dank mud, the rank, rank mud, there's just one guy 

to blame ; 
We'll wish him well (we will, like hell!) and Kaiser Bill's his name! 

Jack Warren Carrol, Corp. F. A. 

Courtesy Stars and Stripes 



204 



DEAR OLD "K" 



101st, OLD 101st 

Words by Sergeant Lawrence J. Connery, Company A, 101st Inf. 

(Tune: "Maryland") 

Old Massachusetts sons are we, 

101st, old 101st; 
And ever loyal we shall be, 

101st, old 101st. 
Old Glory we will wave on high, 
We'll flaunt her colors to the sky; 
For her and thee we'd gladly die, 

101st, old 101st. 

We pledge our love to thee today, 

101st, old 101st; 
We'll never fail thee in the fray, 

101st, old 101st. 
And midst the battle's din and roar, 
With courage tested to the core, 
We'll fight for thee as ne'er before, 

101st, old 101st. 

In future days it is decreed, 

101st, old 101st; 
A golden page shall tell each deed, 

101st, old 101st. 
For we have sworn to guard from shame 
Thy glorious, untarnished name, 
And history will sing thy fame, 

101st, old 101st. 



Inf. 











PICTURE OF K COMPANY TAKEN JUST BEFOIU SAILING FOR FRANCE, \1iim IB 




PICTURE OF •!<•• TAKEN JUST BEFORE DISBANDING 01 COMPANY 
llj comparing this picture » lie one taken prior !.. g y to France, the great change in personnel will be noted 



, 




ENTIRE 88th DIVISION IN FINAL REVIEW, SHORTLY BEFORE BEING MUSTERED (>! T OF SERVICE 



A special effort was made to secure pictures 
of all K Company men who died in service. 
The photos qf Lieutenant Gerdin and Corporal 
Howell did not arrive in time to print. 



205 




. uwds minuet.'!:: 



BRHDV-: 



Would we do it over again? 
I'll say we would. 



206 




6rr ' *** captok* by h.co. fir sr.mm 

These should recall happy moments. 



207 




LJgyoN«»<?»c op Hi.k. he auK^ay^ ' ! ; 

(Twe CenP«wy c<x»K.') 



jsKiny -- 



Do these scenes recall happy bygones? 



208 




Thrills that arise in the life of youth. 



209 





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6NOU6H FIREWORKS TO LAST 

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